CABINET OFFICE

10 and 11 Downing Street

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether the occupants of the flats in (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing street contribute to a reserve fund to help cover unexpected maintenance and repair costs;
	(2)  whether his Department provides (a) building and (b) content insurance in respect of chattels not owned by HM Government for the flats in (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing street;
	(3)  if he will publish a copy of the lease agreements between his Department and the occupants of the flats in (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing street;
	(4)  what level of service charge the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer have contributed for usage of the flats in (i) 10 and (ii) 11 Downing street in each year since May 2010;
	(5)  how the service charge for the flats in (a) 10 Downing street and (b) 11 Downing street is calculated; and how the revenue from that charge was spent by his Department in each of the last two financial years;
	(6)  whether his Department charges ground rent for the use of the flats in (a) 10 and (b) 11 Downing street.

Francis Maude: As was the case under the previous Administration, the Ministerial Code sets out any personal liabilities when allocated an official residence.
	As was also the case under the previous Administration, the Cabinet Office does not provide insurance for personal contents within the official residence.
	No. 10 and No. 11 have long been the official residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and there have been no lease agreements in this time.

Brain Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have survived brain cancer in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated December 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Health how many people have survived brain cancer in each of the last three years. [180978],
	ONS publish one-year and five-year cancer survival estimates for adults aged 15-99. Survival is calculated from the date of diagnosis.
	The latest estimates for patients diagnosed with brain cancer in England are for patients diagnosed in 2007-2011 and followed up to 2012. These figures are presented in Table 1.
	The latest published figures on cancer survival in England are available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/cancer-unit/cancer-survival/index.html
	
		
			 Table 1: One-year and five-year net survival (%)1, with 95% confidence intervals2, for patients (aged 15-99 years)3 diagnosed with brain cancer4 during 2007-2011: England 
			   One-year survival Five-year survival 
			  Number of patients % 95%CI % 95%CI 
			 Men 10,530 43.5 42.2 44.9 17.8 15.7 19.8 
			 Women 7,666 44.1 42.5 45.7 20.4 18.1 22.6 
			 Persons 18,196 43.7 42.7 44.8 18.8 17.3 20.4 
			 1 Net survival is an estimate of the probability of survival from the cancer alone. It can be interpreted as the survival of cancer patients after taking into account the background mortality that the patients would have experienced if they had not had cancer. 2 A 95% confidence interval is a measure of the uncertainty around an estimate. It provides a range around the estimated value within which we have a 95 per cent level of confidence that the true value for the population is likely to fall. 3 All adults (aged 15-99 years) in England who were diagnosed during 2007-2011 with an invasive, primary, malignant neoplasm were eligible for analysis. Ineligible patients were those whose tumour was benign (not malignant) or in situ (malignant but not invasive) or of uncertain, behaviour (uncertain whether benign or malignant), or for which the organ of origin was unknown. 4 Brain cancer is coded as C71 in the International Classification of Diseases; Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

Cancer: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many children have been diagnosed with cancer in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated December 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been diagnosed with cancer in each of the last three years.
	Table 1 provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer in children aged 0-14 years in England for each year from 2009 to 2011 (the latest year available).
	The latest published figures on cancer incidence in England are available on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-302299
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of newly diagnosed cases of cancer in children,1 England, 2003-112, 3 
			    Year 
			 ICD-10 Code Site description Sex 2009 2010 2011 
			 C00-C974 All cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer Male 683 717 645 
			   Female 593 549 528 
		
	
	
		
			   Persons 1,276 1,266 1,173 
			 1 Children aged 0 to 14. 2 Newly diagnosed cases in each calendar year. 3 Excludes non-residents. 4 Excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (C44).

Employment: Medway

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Medway local authority area have entered the workforce for the first time since May 2010; and how many were (a) aged 16 to 24 years old, (b) women and (c) from an ethnic minority.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Caron Walker
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Medway local authority area have entered the workforce for the first time since May 2010; and how many were (a) aged 16 to 24, (b) women and (c) from an ethnic minority. (180819)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS). However, this source does not provide information on whether those people who have entered employment have done so for the first time.
	National and local area estimates for many other labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count at local level are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Immigration

David Hanson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate she has made of the number of (a) Romanian and (b) Bulgarian passport holders in the UK on 19 December 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Joe Grice
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question to ask the Minister for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) Romanian and (b) Bulgarian passport holders in the UK on 19 December 2013 [181831].
	The latest estimates that are available for the number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals resident in the UK are derived from the Annual Population Survey for the 12 month period of January to December 2012. The estimated number of Romanian nationals was 102,000, with a corresponding margin of error of +/-14,000. The estimated number of Bulgarian nationals was 53,000 with a corresponding margin of error of +/-10,000.
	The margin of error refers to the 95 per cent confidence interval and is a measure of the uncertainty associated with making inferences from a sample.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what proportion of the working time of officials in his Department has been dedicated to the Iraq Inquiry since 1 January 2013;
	(2)  when he expects the next progress report from the Chilcot Inquiry on Iraq to be published.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West (Mr Amess), on 11 December 2013, Official Report, column 252W.
	The Inquiry is independent of Government, and the completion of its report is a matter for the Inquiry Committee. Sir John Chilcot wrote to the Prime Minister on 4 November to inform him of the Inquiry's progress. Sir John's letter, and the Prime Minister’s reply, can be seen on the Iraq Inquiry website:
	www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/news/update_on_inquiry_progress_-_november_2013.aspx

Kidneys: Diseases

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases of mortality in (a) Bolton South East constituency, (b) Bolton, (c) Greater Manchester and (d) England have been due to (i) acute and (ii) chronic kidney disease in the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated December 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases of mortality in (a) Bolton South East constituency, (b) Bolton, (c) Greater Manchester and (d) England have been due to (i) acute and (ii) chronic kidney disease in the last five years.
	Table 1 provides the number of deaths where (i) acute, (ii) chronic, (iii) other or unspecified kidney disease was the underlying cause of death in (a) Bolton South East constituency, (b) Bolton metropolitan borough, (c) Greater Manchester metropolitan county and (d) England, for deaths registered between 2008 and 2012 (the latest year available).
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause, marital status, and place of death are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition =tcm%3A77-27475
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was (i) acute, (ii) chronic, (iii) other or unspecified kidney disease in (a) Bolton South East parliamentary constituency, (b) Bolton metropolitan borough, (c) Greater Manchester metropolitan county, (d) England, deaths registered between 2008 and 20121, 2, 3 
			 Deaths 
			  Kidney disease 
			  Acute Chronic Other or unspecified 
			 Bolton South East    
			 2008 0 1 3 
			 2009 0 2 5 
			 2010 0 3 4 
			 2011 1 5 2 
			 2012 1 9 2 
			     
			 Bolton    
			 2008 0 5 4 
			 2009 3 5 10 
			 2010 1 5 13 
			 2011 3 12 3 
			 2012 1 17 5 
			     
			 Greater Manchester    
			 2008 35 74 70 
			 2009 46 56 78 
			 2010 31 72 83 
			 2011 28 97 45 
			 2012 39 99 50 
			     
			 England    
			 2008 706 1,636 1,724 
			 2009 784 1,562 1,744 
			 2010 737 1,594 1,796 
			 2011 612 2,279 1,082 
			 2012 642 2,385 1,027 
			 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised in this table, and their corresponding ICD codes, are shown in Box 1. 2 Figures exclude deaths of non-residents and are based on boundaries at November 2013. 3 Figures are based on deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in the years 2008-2012. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html 
		
	
	
		
			 Box 1-International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes used to define acute, chronic and other or unspecified kidney disease 
			 Cause ICD 10 code(s) 
			 Acute kidney disease N00-N01, N10, N17 
			 Chronic kidney disease N02-N04, N07, N11, N18, N26-N27 
			 Other or unspecified kidney disease N05-N06, N12-N15, N19-N25, N28

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 15 November 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Rayne Myrick.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2013.

Mesothelioma

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the number of people who will die from mesothelioma in the next 30 years.

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	Based on the latest projections of annual mesothelioma deaths, the best estimate is there will be around 60,000 mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain over the 30-year period 2012-41.
	The statistical model suggests an uncertainty range of 55,000 to 65,000 deaths on that estimate. However, the true uncertainty range may be wider as longer-range predictions are reliant on assumptions about asbestos exposures that cannot currently be fully validated.
	A Bill is currently before Parliament to establish a scheme to make payments, averaging £115,000 before benefit recovery, to approximately 300 mesothelioma sufferers and their dependants annually, who would otherwise be unable to obtain the compensation they deserve.

Unemployment: Young People

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the current level of youth unemployment on the west coast of Scotland is.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Joe Grice, dated January 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the current level of youth unemployment on the west coast of Scotland is. (181053)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	The number of 16 to 24 year olds who were unemployed on the west coast of Scotland is 10,000, for the latest period available. We have defined the west coast of Scotland to include Dumfries and Galloway, Eilean Siar, Highland, Argyll and Bute, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period July 2012 to June 2013.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. The above estimate has a Coefficient of Variation (CV) in the range of 10 to 20%. The CV indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he has met the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to discuss the development of the universal credit programme.

Francis Maude: As was the case under previous administrations details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Yorkshire and the Humber

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the North and East Yorkshire and York Local Enterprise Partnership about devolving powers and responsibilities from Whitehall.

Nicholas Clegg: I have had no personal meetings with the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership about devolving powers and responsibilities from Whitehall.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Historical Enquiries Team

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff have been recruited to work for or with the Historical Enquiries Team in the last 12 months; and what the community background is of those who (a) applied for and (b) were recruited to such posts in that time.

Theresa Villiers: Responsibility for the staffing of the Historical Enquiries Team lies with the Chief Constable.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times she or her Ministers have visited (a) TradeMark Southern Africa and (b) TradeMark East Africa projects to date.

Justine Greening: Gareth Thomas, the then Minister of State for International Development, attended a meeting in South Africa in 2009 where TradeMark Southern Africa (TMSA) projects featured on the agenda. The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development Stephen O'Brien visited TMSA in June 2011. In November 2013, the Secretary of State visited a TradeMark East Africa project at Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information her Department holds on how much of (a) TradeMark Southern Africa and (b) TradeMark East Africa funding is in a trust fund.

Justine Greening: As I set out in my ministerial statement of 4 December, Official Report, column 58WS, there were serious flaws in the governance and programme management of the TradeMark Southern Africa (TMSA) programme, which was designed and established between 2007-9. I have now given notice to commence shutting down TMSA with immediate effect. £67 million of funds deposited in 2010 have been only partly committed. The remaining uncommitted funds, approximately £44 million, will now be reclaimed by HMG.
	No TradeMark East Africa funding is held in a trust fund.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times she or her Ministers discussed TradeMark Southern Africa between April 2013 and October 2013.

Justine Greening: Ministers discussed a wide-range of policy matters with officials. Ministers saw the draft ICAI report in late October 2013.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism her Department has put in place to assess and demonstrate the effect of (a) TradeMark Southern Africa and (b) TradeMark East Africa on people in poverty.

Justine Greening: TradeMark Southern Africa was not properly designed or set up to take adequate account of the channels through which poor people can benefit. The evaluation plan for TradeMark East Africa will ensure that there will be proper analysis of the programme's impact on poverty reduction.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she of her Ministers were first informed of the problems uncovered by ICAI with the TradeMark Southern Africa project.

Justine Greening: Ministers saw the draft ICAI report in late October 2013.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) meetings, (b) telephone calls, (c) letters and (d) other forms of communication (i) she and (ii) ministers have had with TradeMark East Africa in each of the last 12 months.

Justine Greening: TradeMark East Africa staff met with DFID Ministers and officials on various occasions in 2013.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money she personally approved for the TradeMark East Africa project.

Justine Greening: All business cases over £5 million are now approved by Ministers. Under the previous Government, Ministers did not routinely approve business cases under £40 million. DFID approvals for funding are available on the DFID website:
	http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have received support from the TradeMark East Africa project.

Justine Greening: TradeMark East Africa provides support to Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan.

Africa

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to review the culture and practices of TradeMark East Africa in the last 12 months.

Justine Greening: I informed the House of Commons on 4 December 2013 of new measures to strengthen DFID's programme management to ensure that underperforming programmes are effectively reported and remedial steps can be taken when programmes are failing to deliver. Programmes with significant weakness that fail to improve significantly will be considered for closure. In addition, I am expanding DFID's internal audit capability and the frequency of reviews.

Developing Countries: Forests

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the role of national parliaments and legislators in preparing and implementing REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Lynne Featherstone: In 2010-11, DFID supported the Global Legislators Organisation (GLOBE) to work with legislators in forest nations and increase their involvement in preparing and implementing national REDD+ strategies.

Developing Countries: Forests

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has provided to (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral funds that have subsequently been used to support capacity building and strengthened governance in national parliaments and the development of national legislation as part of the preparation and implementation of REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID is not currently providing bilateral or multilateral support to national Parliaments for the development of national legislation as part of the preparation and implementation of strategies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

Developing Countries: Forests

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in other donor countries on allocating a proportion of all multilateral REDD+ funds to support strengthened governance in national parliaments and the development of national legislation as part of the preparation and implementation of REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Lynne Featherstone: Ministers have wide-ranging discussions with their counterparts on governance in developing countries. Multilateral REDD+ funds work in developing countries with a wide range of stakeholders, and in principle have the potential to support national parliaments and the development of national legislation in the programmes which they support.

Developing Countries: Forests

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations the UK representative to the Global Environment Facility has made of the need for that body to focus on capacity building in national parliaments and the development of national legislation as part of the preparation and implementation of REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK continues to prioritise capacity building for sustainable forest management as a key feature of the Global Environment Facility sixth replenishment for the period 2014-18. The Global Environment Facility supports integrated approaches to tackle the drivers of deforestation to secure a range of benefits, but is not specifically designed for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) per se.
	The UK provides support to tackle different aspects of sustainable forest management through specialist institutions, including the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which helps countries implement their Readiness Preparation Proposals.

Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to paragraph 7.1 of Treasury Minute, on the twenty-sixth Report from the Committee on Public Accounts, Session 2012-13, Cm 8613, published in May 2013, when he plans to publish details of detected fraud on a country-by-country basis.

Alan Duncan: DFID plans to publish details of detected fraud on a country-by-country basis in its Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14. These will be available in June 2014.

Palestinians

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the effect of restrictions on access into and out of Gaza is on the international response to the floods in Gaza.

Alan Duncan: The UK Government continues to press Israel to ease restrictions on access to Gaza. We are particularly concerned by the limitations on the import of construction materials given the damage to key infrastructure, roads and houses caused by recent severe weather. The reduction in trade through the illegal tunnels has also caused severe shortages of fuel, contributing to power shortages and worsening the humanitarian situation.

Palestinians

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development at the meeting between co-ordination of Government Activities in the territories and international donors and diplomats on 14 December 2013 to discuss measures to address the current crisis in the Gaza Strip, what contribution the government of Israel (a) offered and (b) requested from the international community.

Alan Duncan: UN and humanitarian agencies have reported good co-ordination with the Israeli authorities in response to the situation in Gaza. At the meeting of 14 December the Co-ordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) outlined the actions they had taken in response: a loan of four water pumps for use in the Gaza strip, and an extension of opening times at the Kerem Shalom crossing by three hours to allow further fuel to enter and the repair of a number of power lines into Gaza which had been damaged by the storms.

Palestinians

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to address the deficiencies identified by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the international response to the serious flooding in Gaza last week.

Alan Duncan: We have been on close contact with the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs over the past week. These contacts suggest that existing emergency response mechanisms are working adequately to address the needs in Gaza. We will continue to support our UN partners and monitor any changes in the situation closely.

Syria

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress her Department has made in sending further humanitarian aid to Syria.

Justine Greening: To date DFID has committed £500 million to the humanitarian response in Syria. Recently, we allocated nearly £60 million of this to partners working in Syria and the region to help hundreds of thousands of Syrians, especially children, cope with the onset of winter. This funding will provide winter tents, warm clothing, heaters, fuel and insulation kits for displaced families living in collective shelters and abandoned or damaged buildings.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Tickets: Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Attorney-General if his Department will publish a breakdown for each of the years available of (a) suspected fraud prosecutions and (b) confirmed fraud prosecutions pertaining to ticketing crime, broken down by (i) internet and (ii) physical ticketing fraud.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office has investigated and prosecuted one recent case of ticketing crime relating to the 2012 Olympic Games. This resulted in three individuals being convicted of offences including fraudulent trading and money laundering. Two other individuals were acquitted.
	The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain any centrally held data that would enable the separate identification of prosecutions for fraud, or the type of fraudulent activity. To obtain this information would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost.
	Some limited information, identifying the number of offences of selling tickets by unauthorised persons (ticket touts), in which a prosecution commenced and reached a first hearing in magistrates courts, is available. A single defendant may be prosecuted for multiple offences.
	Ticketing crime offences are prosecuted by way of Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (selling or otherwise disposing of a ticket for a designated football match). The following table shows the number of these offences which were charged and reached a first hearing in each of the last five years:
	
		
			 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 { 166(1) and (3)} 
			  Number 
			 2008-09 43 
			 2009-10 63 
			 2010-11 61 
			 2011-12 89 
			 2012-13 53 
		
	
	It is not possible to disaggregate these figures to show separately the number of ticketing crime offences relating to frauds committed via the internet as opposed to physical ticketing fraud without incurring a disproportionate cost. To obtain this information would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Chief of Defence Materiel

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the current Chief of Defence Materiel will continue is his capacity in addition to his new role as Chief Executive of DE&S+.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 December 2013, Official Report, column 636W, to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck).

Defence Equipment and Support

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the financial savings that would be achieved over a 10 year period from (a) the Defence Equipment and Support plus model and (b) a government-owned, contractor-operated entity.

Andrew Murrison: The 2009 Gray Report indentified around £1.5 billion of annual frictional costs, which the Materiel Strategy was developed to address. As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) set out in July 2012, the GOCO and DE&S + models were both expected to yield significant savings, but precise estimates are not available due to the early termination of the commercial competition.

Defence: Procurement

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 4 December 2013 to the hon. Member for Moray, Official Report, column 674W, and of 25 November 2013 to the hon. Member for Poole, Official Report, columns 36-7W, on defence: procurement, how much defence procurement expenditure was placed with small and medium-sized enterprises with a billing address in each of the English regions and in the other constituent parts of the UK in the last three financial years.

Philip Dunne: Details of overall Ministry of Defence expenditure with small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are available at the following link:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/finance-and-economics/MOD-contracting-with-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises/financial-year-2012-13
	A breakdown of SME expenditure by UK region is not, however, routinely produced as part of this publication. This information will take additional time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Defence: Procurement

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date will DE&S+ will be match-fit to undertake procurement for his Department.

Andrew Murrison: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), set out in his oral statement to the House on 10 December 2013, Official Report, columns 146-148, the intent is to ensure that Defence Equipment and Support has undergone sufficient transformation in terms of structure, skills and processes such that it is able to deliver its outputs much more effectively and efficiently than it does today. We have seen improvements in recent years but we need to maintain focus on continuing those improvements; we believe that the plans set out on 10 December are the best means by which to achieve that.

Defence: Procurement

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what condition would have to be met for a GoCo proposal to be considered for Defence procurement in the future.

Andrew Murrison: No specific conditions have been set for consideration of a future GoCo. We will need to assess the maturity of both the market and Defence Equipment and Support as an organisation once we have established the bespoke trading entity and benefited from private sector support outlined in the announcement, to transform specific areas of business.

France

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of help, support and co-operation the UK armed forces have provided to the French intervention in the Central African Republic; and what plans he has for Franco-British military co-operation in the near future in the framework of the Lancaster House Treaties.

Mark Francois: In response to a request from the French President, the Royal Air Force has undertaken three return flights by CI7 transport aircraft to help move French forces' equipment to Bangui in support of their intervention in the Central African Republic. Franco-British military co-operation in the framework of the Lancaster House Treaties continues to deliver steady progress towards our shared objectives including the ability, by 2016, to field a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, supporting each other in operations, co-ordinating our activities in the development and acquisition of a range of capabilities, ensuring our support for action in the UN, NATO and the EU and ensuring the viability and safety of our national deterrents.

Mali

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department gave to French military operations in Mali; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 November 2013, Official Report, columns 699-700W, to the hon. Member for York Central (Hugh Bayley).

Military Bases: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel stationed at (a) RAF Lossiemouth and (b) RAF Leuchars have stated Moray or Fife in their first and second joint personnel administration preferences.

Anna Soubry: Individuals are able to select either Fife or Grampian (which includes Moray), as location preferences.
	The information requested can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  Fife Grampian 
			 RAF Lossiemouth—1,546 personnel based at unit1   
			 1st choice 68 831 
			 2nd choice 275 199 
			    
			 RAF Leuchars—1,124 personnel based at unit1   
			 1st choice 275 266 
			 2nd choice 81 160 
			 1 Not including individual augmentees deployed overseas

Military Bases: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, columns 480-81W, on military bases: Yorkshire and the Humber, what communications by letter or email (a) his Department and (b) the office of the Chief of the Defence Staff have received from personnel within 15 Brigade Headquarters about the case for basing the new Adaptive Force Brigade Headquarters in (i) Catterick and (ii) York; and if he will place copies of those letters and emails in the Library.

Andrew Murrison: Officials are checking whether any relevant communications on this matter have been received and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Military Bases: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, columns 480-1W, on military bases: Yorkshire and the Humber, if, before his Department decides where to base the new Adaptive Force Brigade Headquarters in Yorkshire, he will obtain comparative estimates of the (a) premises, (b) IT systems and (c) personnel, including redundancy and staff travel, costs of establishing the Headquarters in (i) Catterick and (ii) York; and if he will publish such information about the comparative costs as part of the business case for the Headquarters to be published in February/March 2014.

Andrew Murrison: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 5 March 2013, Official Report, column 845, the Army 2020 basing plan will allow the Army to generate its military capability in the optimal way. The focus will be on increasing consolidation around seven centres, including Catterick in the north-east of England. As a consequence Headquarters 15 (North East) Brigade will merge with Headquarters 4 Mechanised Brigade by 1 December 2014 to form Headquarters 4 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East, based in Catterick.

Reserve Forces

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department provides to employers to assist employees who are army reservists; and how their skills will enhance the employer's company. [Official Report, 14 January 2014, Vol. 573, c. 8-10MC.]

Anna Soubry: SaBRE-Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers-is an organisation supported by the Ministry of Defence which is positioned to provide support to both reservists and employers. It maintains a website
	www.sabre.mod.uk
	that provides information for employers including detailed advice on the benefits of employing reservists and examples for companies of HR policies tailored to reservist employees. SaBRE also operates a telephone helpline that is available for both reservists and employers to address specific inquires. Further, each of the 13 Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) has a Regional SaBRE Campaign Director able to provide a personal, face-to-face service for employers at a local and regional level.
	In the White Paper ‘Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valued and Valuable’ (Cm 8655) the Government pledged to improve the relationship between Defence and employers. Financial support is given to assist employers to recruit staff or to cover overtime to fill an absence left by a mobilised employee. An incentive payment of £500 per employer per month is also available to some small and medium enterprises. Under our fresh approach to the Reserves, employers will have greater awareness and predictability of when their staff may be mobilised.
	Reserve Service will benefit different employers in different ways. For some, the improved skills, experience and training of the individual reservist will be beneficial. For some, where the reservist’s military role is close to their civilian one, there will be more benefit from transferable skills.
	For some companies and sectors, Reserve Service suits and supports their business models. Reserve Service might support corporate social responsibility objectives and be part of their social action plans, alongside any wider volunteering policies.

Reserve Forces

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to provide an update on progress with recruitment to the Army Reserve.

Anna Soubry: The strength of the Reserve Forces is reported as part of the Quarterly Personnel Report. The last report, for the period to 30 September 2013, was released on 14 November 2013; the next report, for the period to 31 December 2013 is expected to be released in mid-February 2014.
	The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), released a written ministerial statement on 19 December 2013, Official Report, column 124WS, and a paper was placed in the Library of the House setting out the planned growth of the trained strength of the Reserve Forces, together with the enlistment targets for the next five years that will support that growth.

Reserve Forces

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he plans to provide an update on the costs of the Future Reserves 2020 measures.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) on 6 November 2013, Official Report, column 203W. Any update regarding the cost of the Future Reserves programme will be shown in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts.

JUSTICE

Convictions

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of (a) burglary, (b) sexual assault, (c) grievous bodily harm, (d) rape, (e) manslaughter, (f) attempted murder, (g) forgery, (h) fraud, (i) theft of a motor vehicle, (j) theft from a person, (k) robbery, (l) sexual activity with a child under 16, (m) sexual activity with a child under 13, (n) sexual assault of a female, (o) rape of a male, (p) rape of a female, (q) sexual assault on a male, (r) child abduction, (s) abandoning children aged under two years, (t) cruelty or neglect of children, (u) wounding or other acts endangering life, (v) causing death by aggravated vehicle-taking, (w) causing death by driving while unlicensed or uninsured, (x) causing death of a child or a vulnerable person, (y) causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, (z) manslaughter due to diminished responsibility (aa) causing death by reckless driving, (bb) threat or conspiracy to murder, (cc) perverting to course of justice, (dd) violent disorder, (ee) kidnapping, (ff) blackmail, (gg) intent to supply a controlled drug, (hh) possession of a controlled drug, (ii) criminal damage, (jj) arson, (kk) common assault, (ll) dangerous driving and (mm) firearms offences and received a custodial sentence of less than (i) six months and (ii) four years in 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts, within the maximum penalty available for the offence. Since 2010, offenders are more likely to go to custody and for longer.
	Data on offenders found guilty and the subset sentenced to custodial sentences for offences referred to in the question above, in England and Wales in 2012, can be viewed in the table:
	
		
			 Persons convicted and sentenced to immediate custody for selected offence groups at all courts, by sentence length, England and Wales, 2012 
			    Sentence length 
			 Year Offence Total convicted Total immediate custody Less than 6 months 6 months to less than 4 years 4 years Over 4 years 
			 2012 Burglary 22,427 11,422 2,629 7,921 316 556 
			  Sexual assault, of which: 2,324 1,177 125 713 77 262 
			  —Sexual assault on a female 2,108 1,034 121 617 68 228 
			  —Sexual assault on a male 216 143 4 96 9 34 
			  Grievous bodily harm1 4,030 2,177 16 2,102 24 35 
			  Rape, of which: 1,145 1,076 — 90 41 945 
			  —Rape of a male 90 74 — 10 2 62 
			  —Rape of a female 1,055 1,002 — 80 39 883 
			  Manslaughter 166 153 — 23 7 123 
			  Attempted murder 75 71 — 2 — 69 
			  Fraud and forgery, of which: 16,437 3,922 1,322 2,420 57 123 
			  —Forgery 1,850 1,137 250 874 4 9 
			  —Fraud 14,073 2,745 1,057 1,521 53 114 
			  —Other fraud and forgery 514 40 15 25 — — 
			  Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle 811 325 159 161 4 1 
			  Robbery 8,337 5,002 76 3,460 363 1,103 
			  Theft from the person of another 5,953 2,127 1,362 749 5 11 
			  Sexual activity with child under 16 824 519 8 354 43 114 
			  Sexual activity with child under 13 230 123 5 72 11 35 
			  Child abduction 93 45 5 38 1 1 
			  Abandoning child aged under two years — — — — — — 
			  Cruelty to or neglect of children 615 142 16 108 4 14 
			  Wounding or other act endangering life 1,828 1,684 6 371 177 1,130 
			  Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking 4 3 — 2 — 1 
			  Causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers 13 4 1 3 — — 
			  Causing death of a child or vulnerable person 3 3 — — 3 — 
			  Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs 23 21 — 8 1 12 
			  Manslaughter due to diminished responsibility 13 6 — — 1 5 
			  Causing death by reckless driving2 221 59 4 54 1 — 
			  Threat or Conspiracy to Murder 449 216 39 150 10 17 
			  Perverting the Course of Justice 1,386 675 200 466 4 5 
			  Violent Disorder 534 361 14 345 1 1 
			  Kidnapping3 335 258 1 166 24 67 
			  Blackmail 159 127 — 103 8 16 
			  Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply 6,851 3,344 163 2,592 189 400 
			  Possession of a controlled drug 39,836 1,161 1,032 110 5 14 
			  Criminal damage (excluding arson) 4,659 370 274 92 2 2 
			  Arson 1,354 618 56 374 53 135 
		
	
	
		
			  Common assault, etc 51,637 7,105 6,838 267 — — 
			  Dangerous driving 2,740 1,104 164 940 — — 
			  Firearms offences 1,599 463 80 183 12 188 
			 1 Includes offences of wounding or inflicting bodily harm (including racially aggravated) and malicious wounding or grievous bodily harm (including racially and/or religiously aggravated). 2 Includes offences grouped as ‘Causing Death by careless or inconsiderate driving’. 3 Includes offences of kidnapping, hijacking, false imprisonment, detaining and threatening to kill or injure a hostage. Note: The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Domestic Visits

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which individuals and organisations (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have visited since February 2013; and when each such visit took place.

Shailesh Vara: All meetings with external organisations and individuals by Ministers are recorded and published on a quarterly basis on the .gov.uk website, under ‘publications’. The transparency data provide a record of meetings with any groups, companies, organisations or individuals external to the Government.

Legal Aid Scheme: Family Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of the legal aid reform on family law costs; and if he will make a statement.

Shailesh Vara: Impact assessments produced at the time of Royal Assent to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) set out potential costs to the family justice system as a result of our reforms. These can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/legislation/bills-and-acts/acts/legal-aid-and-sentencing-act/laspo-background-information
	We continue to monitor any impacts closely as the reforms fully bed in.
	The Government will be undertaking a post-implementation review of the legal aid provisions within LASPO in three to five years time, which include a review of the impact of the reforms, including on the family justice system.

Police Custody: Ethnic Groups

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of death in custody of those from Black, Asian or ethnic minority backgrounds.

Jeremy Wright: The Government is committed to reducing all deaths in custody. All prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves or others, or from others. These procedures include the assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) process, which is a prisoner-centred, flexible care planning system for prisoners identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm. Prisons are also required to ensure that they have procedures in place to learn from deaths in custody to prevent future occurrences and improve local delivery of safer custody.
	Staff must have regard to equality considerations in the implementation of safer custody procedures, and ensure fair and appropriate treatment of prisoners across all protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010, including race. An analysis of deaths in custody by ethnicity is included in the published Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, available at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics

Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times the word ‘poverty’ has been mentioned in his Department's parliamentary answers in Session (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

Shailesh Vara: The Department does not record this information centrally and it would incur disproportionate costs to provide it, because it would require a manual trawl of each individual PQ response.

Treason Felony Act 1848

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to bring forward legislative proposals to repeal section 3 of the Treason Felony Act 1848. [R]

Damian Green: We have no plans to repeal section 3 of the Treason Felony Act 1848.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Advisory Council On the Misuse of Drugs

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used for appointing members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; and whether any veterinary surgeons were considered as candidates for that Council.

Norman Baker: The criteria used in the recent recruitment campaign by the Home Office for the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs members were published. No veterinary surgeons were sought or considered.

Asylum

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are (a) currently seeking asylum in the UK and (b) waiting to be returned to their country of origin.

Mark Harper: Information regarding asylum seekers in the UK (who have claimed post October 2006) and those subject to removal is available on the Home Office website. This forms part of our transparency agenda:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/further-key-data/
	For ease, the relevant information is provided here:
	
		
			 Status of applications WIP1 as at end June 2011 WIP as at end June 2012 WIP as at end June 2013 
			 Awaiting initial asylum decision 4,851 6,192 8,980 
			 Asylum appeal outstanding 5,553 4,706 4,328 
			 Subject to removal action 24,738 23,497 23,438 
			 Further leave application outstanding 2,761 2,986 2,724 
			 Total 37,903 37,381 39,470 
			 1 Work in Progress

Asylum

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum interviews have been delayed due to difficulties in obtaining a Home Office interpreter in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with the information you have requested. This is because the Home Office's case information database (CID) does not hold data on the specific reasons for an interview being delayed. This information is only held within paper case files or in the notes field of CID, which would mean your question could be answered only through a disproportionately expensive manual case search.

Asylum: Deportation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will reconsider the decision to deport Isa Muaza to Nigeria; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: Isa Muazu, a failed asylum seeker, has now been successfully returned to Nigeria.
	We consider every claim for asylum on its individual merits and he was not found to have a genuine need of protection. This was a decision that was supported by the courts. As he had no right to be in the UK, the Home Office began the complex process of removing him. Halting the removal of Mr Muazu because of his protest would have undermined our asylum and immigration system-and provided a dangerous incentive for others to follow suit.

Asylum: Deportation

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons she has decided that Boko Haram was not a threat to the life of Mr Isa Muaza.

Mark Harper: Mr Muazu’s asylum application was considered on its individual merits. On the basis of all evidence presented, his claim was refused and certified as clearly unfounded as he did not have a genuine need for protection. This was a decision that was supported by the courts. He has now been successfully returned to Nigeria.
	Asylum applications are considered on their individual merits against up-to-date country information, relevant case law and any policy guidance specific to the type of claim. Country information itself is based on reliable sources, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other governmental sources, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, international and national human rights organisations, and news media.

Borders: Personal Records

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which capabilities included in the original e-Borders business case (a) have been taken out of scope and (b) are under consideration for taking out of scope; and what the estimated cost was of each of those capabilities as defined at the time of the original tender.

Mark Harper: The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Borders: Personal Records

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the capability to reconcile a passenger arriving on a foreign national passport and leaving on a UK passport as included in the original e-Borders business case, what body or company is responsible for delivering that capability; and by what date that capability is expected to be delivered.

Mark Harper: The capability referred to in the question, which was included in the original e-Border business case, is known as ‘person-centric' travel history, whereby the travel history for the passenger is established regardless of the documents the passenger may use.
	There is currently no body or company delivering this specific capability. Border Force is considering 'person-centric' travel history as part of the review of its overall Digital Delivery Strategy.

Corruption

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget her Department has allocated to increasing rates of asset recovery in cases of grand corruption.

Norman Baker: The National Crime Agency's total spending power in 2013/14 is £463 million resource and £31 million capital. The Agency is responsible for delivering the Coalition Government's objectives, as set through the Home Secretary's Strategic Priorities for the NCA and the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, including overseeing the law enforcement response to bribery and corruption. The Home Office and the NCA are members of the Arab Spring Asset Recovery Task Force which is dedicated to restoring the assets stolen by the former regimes in the Arab Spring countries to the people of those countries.

Counter-terrorism

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of programmes undertaken by local authorities under funds made available through the Prevent agenda in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Since the revised Prevent Strategy was published in June 2011, the Home Office has worked closely with local authorities in Prevent priority areas, and therefore has an ongoing understanding of the effectiveness of programmes in a given area. We also have a more robust monitoring and evaluation of Prevent projects funded under the revised 2011 Prevent strategy than in the previous strategy, notably on value for money. The vast majority of projects are assessed to be effective. Ultimately for those projects shown not to be effective we will withdraw funding.
	Performance monitoring data are not published, but informs the Government's report on its counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, which is published annually.

Cybercrime: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has given any support to the Scottish Government in (a) tackling cyber crime or (b) combating cyber attacks against the Scottish Government.

James Brokenshire: As part of the UK, Scotland benefits from the UK Government’s investment in cyber security, which we recognised as a tier 1 threat to national security in 2010. The UK Government has allocated £860 million over five years to improve the UK’s cyber security under the National Cyber Security Programme, which supports efforts to understand the threat the UK faces and protect government, industry, and the public. The Home Office receives approximately 10% of this funding each year; this money has been used to improve our capabilities to respond to cyber crime. These capabilities include the new national cyber crime unit within the National Crime Agency which will improve the collective operational response to cyber crime, working in collaboration with police forces across the UK, including Police Scotland.

Databases

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 397W, on rape, which police forces are now live on the data hub.

Damian Green: In the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 397W, it was stated that 13 police forces were live on the Home Office data hub (HODH) crime database. As at 19 December, there are now 14 live forces. These are: Avon and Somerset, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester Police, Merseyside, Northumbria, Staffordshire, Surrey, Thames Valley, West Mercia and West Yorkshire.
	It is expected that all forces will be live on HODH by the end of 2014.

Deportation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals (a) were deported and (b) successfully appealed against deportation under section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 in each year since the implementation of that Act.

Mark Harper: The total number of foreign national offenders who were deported under section 32 of the UK Borders Act 2007 between January 2009 and September 2013 is 15,105. This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Total 
			 CY 2009 3,150 
			 CY 2010 3,555 
			 CY 2011 3,000 
			 CY 2012 3,130 
			 CY 2013 (to September 2013) 2,270 
			 Total FNO Deportations (January 2009 to September 2013) 15,105 
		
	
	The total number of foreign national offenders who successfully appealed deportation under section 32 of the UK Border Act 2007 between January 2009 and September 2013 is 2,405. This is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Total 
			 CY 2009 435 
			 CY 2010 625 
			 CY 2011 545 
			 CY 2012 630 
			 CY 2013 (to September 2013) 170 
			 Total FNOs which successfully appealed deportation (January 2009 to September 2013) 2,405 
		
	
	The allowed appeals figure for CY 2013 are low because the appeals data provided is cohort based and relates to appeals lodged between January 2009 and September 2013. A large proportion of the 2013 cases will still be in the appeals process and would not have been concluded at the time the data was obtained.
	We are unable to provide reliable data for the period prior January 2009, as our systems for recording such information were not in place at that time.

Deportation

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether prior permission had been granted by the Nigerian authorities for the arrival of Ifa Muaza following his deportation; and for what reasons the Nigerian authorities did not give permission for the flight to land;
	(2)  what the estimated cost was of (a) chartered aircraft and (b) staff for the aborted deportation of Ifa Muaza.

Mark Harper: holding answer 5 December 2013
	We do not provide the costs of particular flights or of staff for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
	The Nigerian high commission in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja agreed to the removal of Mr Muazu however the initial flight was forced to land in Malta, and then return to the UK, for operational reasons not connected to Mr Muazu's health or conduct. Mr Muazu has now been successfully returned to Nigeria.

Deportation

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what upper limit is set to the costs of deporting a single individual.

Mark Harper: Each removal is considered on a case by case basis to ensure the most suitable and cost effective method of return is used.

Detainees: Compensation

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much compensation was paid to victims of unlawful detention by police forces in England and Wales in 2012-13.

Damian Green: The information requested is not held centrally.

Drugs: Misuse

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people taken into police detention were tested for the presence of Class A drugs under section 63B of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended by section 7 of the Drugs Act 2005 in the last two years for which figures are available; how many such people were referred to a drug treatment programme; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Home Office does not hold data on drug tests for all Class A drugs. Only offenders arrested or charged with a 'trigger offence'—largely acquisitive crime related offences—are required to provide a sample to be tested for specified Class A drugs (heroin and cocaine/crack cocaine).
	Based on management information from an operational source there were approximately 372,000 drug tests in 2011/12 and 2012/13 undertaken for the presence of heroin and/or cocaine/crack under section 63B of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended by section seven of the Drugs Act 2005 .
	Of these, approximately 115,000 were positive and 110,000 led to a referral to a drug treatment programme. These numbers refer to occasions, rather than unique individuals. They are based on an operational source and have not undergone rigorous quality assurance although the systems do contain automated verification checks. Positive tests are defined as tests that were positive for cocaine and/or heroin at screening. A proportion of these will have been disputed and overturned on confirmatory testing, but it is not practicable to identify all such tests.
	The number of referrals is the number of mandatory initial assessments following a positive test. Some referrals may also have been made following a negative test, but this is not recorded.

Drugs: Misuse

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many new psychoactive substances have been identified by her Department's Forensic Early Warning System in each month since it was established;
	(2)  pursuant to the written statement of 12 December 2013, Official Report, column 57WS, on drugs policy, who the members of the expert advisory panel will be; and what steps she is taking to ensure that the voluntary and charitable sectors are able to contribute to the review into new psychoactive substances.

Norman Baker: The number of new psychoactive substances not previously encountered either in the UK or at EU level and identified by the Home Office Forensic Early Warning System (FEWS) since it was established in 2011 is 27. The systems for collecting and analysing samples, and the complexities involved in identification, does not facilitate a monthly inventory of substances identified.
	Membership of the expert advisory panel for the review into legislative options to tackle new psychoactive substances is currently being progressed but will comprise of experts drawn from, but not limited to, the following key areas:
	Enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities
	Local Authorities
	Science (medical and social)
	Forensic
	Academia
	Additional members will be invited to join the review where a need arises.
	Consultation with additional experts and interested parties, including other Government Departments, and devolved Administrations, will be conducted by Home Office officials throughout the review.
	The voluntary and charitable sectors will be consulted as appropriate.

Extremism

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports the Domestic Extremism Unit at the Metropolitan Police have passed to her Department in the last 24 months; and when her Department received each such report.

Norman Baker: The National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit is a national policing intelligence unit hosted by the Metropolitan Police Service under a lead force arrangement. It works within the existing legal framework that governs the police in terms of gathering and sharing information. It operates as a strategic intelligence unit to research, analyse and collate intelligence.
	The unit provides both Government (including the Home Office) and police forces with regular assessments covering a wide range of public order and domestic extremism issues. The Home Office also receives periodic strategic assessments on public order and domestic extremism issues and ad hoc advice on specific topics as required.

Foreign Workers

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people entering the UK on intra-company transfers had NVQ level 4 qualifications in 2012-13.

Mark Harper: The latest available data on people entering the UK shows that in 2012 there were an estimated 21,800 passenger arrivals of individuals under intra company transfers. Corresponding information on the number who held NVQ level 4 qualifications is not available.
	Information about the number of people entering the UK on intra company transfers during 2012 is published as part of the “Immigration statistics, July to September 2013”, table ad_03_w available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2013/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2013

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Visas and Immigration specialist trafficking team is now fully operational; and how many staff are working on human trafficking issues within that team.

Mark Harper: The National Referral Mechanism Hub was created in April 2013. From December 2013, it started taking on all new referrals where trafficking is raised as part of an asylum claim, or in the context of another immigration process. The team will expand from nine decision makers to 18.

Human Trafficking

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialist training is offered to asylum case owners with respect to (a) identification of cases of trafficking and (b) working with victims of trauma.

Mark Harper: All asylum decision makers undertake a 25 day initial training course. This includes training on interviewing vulnerable persons, gender issues and an introduction to the issue of victims of human trafficking, including the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), indicators of human trafficking, and the First Responder referral process.
	Further, all asylum decision makers are required to complete two mandatory e-learning courses, entitled “Human trafficking” and “the National Referral Mechanism". Content includes indicators of human trafficking and how to identify potential victims and refer them into the National Referral Mechanism.
	In addition, all asylum case owners and caseworkers who operate as Competent Authority decision makers within the NRM are required to undertake additional training on NRM processes, indicators, sensitive interview skills, children as victims of trafficking, NRM decision making, group discussion and NRM partner presentations.
	There is no standalone training on trauma issues but the issue of trauma is included in a number of training courses, including the Foundation Training Programme and Competent Authority training as above.

Illegal Immigrants

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish and place in the Library her Department's evaluation of the advertising campaign using the phrase 'go home or face arrest'.

Mark Harper: The evaluation of this pilot campaign has been published and placed in the House Library. It can be accessed at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operation-vaken-evaluation-report

Illegal Immigrants

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 531W, on immigration offences, how many people have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted for each of those immigration offences in the last year for which figures are available.

Mark Harper: holding answer 9 December 2013
	The information cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Illegal Immigrants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many named individuals are currently listed in the Home Office immigration database for illegal migrants.

Mark Harper: The Home Office does not have a specific database for illegal migrants.

Illegal Immigrants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who were in the UK illegally have (a) been subject to enforced departure from the UK and (b) left the UK voluntarily in each of the last three years.

Mark Harper: The following table provides the total number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK in each of the last three years.
	
		
			 Removals and voluntary departures, 2010 to 20121 
			  2010 2011 20122 
			 Total enforced removals 14,854 15,063 14,647 
			 Total refused entry at port and subsequently departed 18,276 15,700 13,789 
			     
			 Total voluntary departures 27,114 26,419 29,663 
			 Assisted voluntary returns 4,541 3,120 3,706 
			 Notified voluntary departures 5,996 7,587 6,749 
			 Other confirmed voluntary departures 16,577 15,712 19,208 
			 1 Removals are recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken. 2 Provisional figures. 
		
	
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures are readily available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: July to September 2013, from the gov.uk website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	Data for 2013 will be available from 27 February 2014.

Illegal Immigrants

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal entrants have been detained at ports of entry to the UK on more than one occasion through the use of sniffer dogs in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mark Harper: Border Force does not record statistical information for illegal entrants detained on more than one occasion through the use of sniffer dogs.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire have been fined for employing illegal foreign national workers in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The information requested has been provided. The figures are based on the number of civil penalties served at visited business addresses.
	
		
			  Penalties issued in Cannock Chase constituency Penalties issued in Staffordshire (excluding Cannock Chase) 
			 2009 3 35 
			 2010 0 33 
			 2011 1 17 
			 2012 1 12 
			 2013 (up to 31 October) 2 8 
			 Note: The figures provided are sourced from a Home Office management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional. 
		
	
	Please note the figures are for penalties issued at the initial decision stage which may be reduced, cancelled, increased or reissued at the objection or appeal stage.

Immigrants: Children

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many unaccompanied minors, excluding those from other EU member states, have entered the UK in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many unaccompanied minors departed from the UK in the last 12 months.

Mark Harper: The Home Office does not hold the information requested.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the length of time an individual has been held in prison solely under immigration powers is used to decide which time-served foreign national prisoners will be transferred from the prison estate to immigration removal centres.

Mark Harper: When a time served foreign national offender has been risk assessed for their suitability to move from a prison to an IRC, every practical effort is made to ensure that they are moved in chronological order of the time served date.
	In addition, the Home Office work hard to balance this need with the need to arrange value for money moves. This involves grouping moves that are both geographically and operationally advantageous to minimise the cost.

Immigration

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been listed as an immigration or asylum absconder in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The number of people listed as an immigration or asylum absconder in each of the last six years can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Breach year Total 
			 2008 11,567 
			 2009 11,430 
			 2010 9,783 
			 2011 9,585 
			 2012 5,240 
			 2013 3,192 
			 Grand total 50,797 
			 Notes: 1. The data relates to the number of people whom absconded by calendar year. 2. Many of these people have subsequently been encountered and are no longer absconders. 3. People may have absconded more than once. 4. An asylum/non-asylum breakdown is not possible within this time frame. 5. The figures provided are sourced from a Home Office management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.

Immigration Controls

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential costs and benefits of extending transitional controls on EU accession states; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: In June 2005, the previous Government signed the accession treaty with Romania and Bulgaria. In doing so, they granted all Romanians and Bulgarians the right to come to Britain. The treaty came into effect in 2007, and as a result the seven-year transitional controls relating to free movement will end this year.
	From 1 January 2014, Romanians and Bulgarians will have the right to free movement across Europe on the same terms as other EU nationals.
	We are focusing on cutting out the abuse of free movement between EU member states and addressing the factors that drive European immigration to Britain.
	Across Government, we are working to ensure that our controls on accessing benefits and services, including the NHS and social housing are among the tightest in Europe to protect the UK from abuse. On 27 November 2013 the Prime Minister announced a number of measures to put this principle into effect.

Immigration Controls: Aviation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Transport of 12 November 2013, Official Report, column 572W, on aviation, why her Department has no plans to match arrivals data from general aviation entries into the UK with the national air traffic system.

Mark Harper: Border Force work to match arrivals data from general aviation entries into the UK with the data from the national air traffic system is under way.

Immigration: Appeals

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have received an immigration decision and reached appeal rights exhausted stage in each of the last three years.

Mark Harper: The ‘Appeals Rights Exhausted’ (ARE) category applies to appeals lodged by in-country applicants within the United Kingdom. It is relevant because an individual's immigration status may change once this stage is reached. The number of cases reaching ARE for the past three years is as follows:
	
		
			 Calendar years In-country appeals 
			 2010 32,790 
			 2011 28,448 
			 2012 22,159 
			 Notes: 1. All figures quoted have been derived from management information (CID) and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. 2. Data refers to those cases that lodge an appeal and have become ARE figure based solely on those events.

Immigration: Business

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's overarching impact assessment of the Immigration Bill, published on 14 October 2013, if she will publish a breakdown of the £4.71 million estimated as the net annual cost to business.

Mark Harper: The Immigration Bill's overarching impact assessment includes a breakdown of the £4.71 million equivalent annual net cost to business in table one. The principal cost to business comes from tackling illegal immigration in privately rented accommodation. Housing is a key enabler of illegal migration. The policy is intended to reduce the availability of accommodation for those intending to stay illegally in the UK, and tackle the exploitation of migrants by rogue landlords. Further detailed analysis of the cost to business that results from the measures in the Bill concerning residential tenancies can be found in the separate impact assessment, “Tackling illegal immigration in privately rented accommodation”, available on Parliament's website at:
	http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/immigration/documents.html

Immigration: Children

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library records of all the consultations received during the impact assessment for the Immigration Bill in relation to her statutory safeguarding children duties as set out in Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 from (a) the Office of the Children's Champion and (b) other bodies.

Mark Harper: The Government held three public consultations during the summer that relate to provisions in the Immigration Bill. These consultations focused on tackling illegal immigration in private, rented accommodation, regulating migrant access to health services in the UK, and measures to help prevent illegal working. The Government's response to each of these consultations has been published online and includes a summary of responses received. The Office of the Children's Champion is part of the Home Office and as such does not respond to public consultations.

Immigration: Children

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were entered onto the UK Border Agency database in each of the last five years; how many alerts requiring investigation were generated from that data, excluding false positives; and what the estimated cost of those investigations was.

Mark Harper: The former UK Border Agency had a number of databases—it is not clear to which the question refers, or what kind of alerts are being referred to.

Internet

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether access to any websites or domains is blocked from computers in her Department; and if she will publish a list of all such websites and domains to which access is prohibited.

James Brokenshire: The Home Department does block websites in two broad groups.
	1. Individual sites that are specifically notified to Home Office IT either, by CESG GovCert as malicious or other sites specifically notified by business users as being potentially harmful.
	2. Sites that are classified by a global service provider into certain categories that are deemed to be inappropriate for Home Office business use. Home Department systems are able to automatically check sites against these categories, a list of which with brief descriptions follows.
	Pornography (sites that contain materials that are intended to-be sexually arousing or erotic as the main focus)
	Anonymisers (sites used for disguising access to sites that might otherwise be blocked)
	Gruesome Content (sites considered to have content that can be considered tasteless, gross, shocking, or gruesome)
	Violence (sites considered to have content that includes real or lifelike images or text that portray, describe, or advocate physical assaults against humans, animals, or institutions)
	Games/Cartoon Violence (this category is specific to fantasy or fictitious representations of violence within the context of games, comics, cartoons, or graphic novels)
	Extreme (the outer limits of: Gruesome Content, Hate Speech, Politics/Opinion, Violence, or Game/Cartoon Violence, including Child Abuse would also be classed as Extreme)
	Social Networking (this category includes URLs that enable social networking for a variety of purposes; friendship, dating, professional, or topics of interest)
	Browser Exploits (sites constructed to attempt attacks on browser software)
	Consumer Protection (sites that try to rob or cheat consumers)
	Illegal UK (this will include for example sites that contain child sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world, and criminally obscene and incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK. This includes sites notified to McAfee by the Internet Watch Foundation)
	Malicious Downloads (sites that allow a user to inadvertently download code that is harmful or annoying)
	Malicious Sites (sites that deploy code designed specifically to hijack your computer's settings or activity)
	Phishing (sites designed to steal user account information)
	Potentially Unwanted Programs (which typically alter security or privacy settings on the client computer)
	Spam URLs (links to web pages that arrive in unsolicited spam e-mail with content ranges from product marketing to potentially offensive or fraudulent sites)
	Spyware/Adware/Keyloggers (web pages that violate personal or corporate privacy and security by covertly gathering and sending information to another party)
	It is not considered appropriate to publish the list of individually blocked sites as many cases are harmful sites that we are informed of by the CESG GovCert regime, Home Office would not wish to endanger any CESG operational intelligence and would refer the request to GovCert. Additionally in many cases these are stored as IP addresses rather than readable URLs. It is not possible to list all of the sites in the blocked categories as this is compiled by an external service provider.

Interpol

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much Interpol has charged and received for providing major event support teams in (a) the UK and (b) EU member states in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much Interpol major event support teams cost for the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 16 December 2013
	The Interpol Major Event Support Team for the London 2012 Summer Olympics was provided at no cost to the UK.
	Interpol has not deployed any other such teams in the UK in the last five years. We do not hold information on the amount charged or received for any Major Event Support Teams that Interpol may have deployed to any other member state in the same period.

Interpol

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 2, on Interpol, what the length of time between issue and withdrawal or revocation was of each of the eight Interpol Red Notices which were withdrawn or revoked by the UK;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 762W, on Interpol, for what reasons it is not possible for figures for Red Notices for UK nationals issued by other countries to be provided.

James Brokenshire: As previously stated in our response of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 762W, the Home Office does not collect statistical data centrally on Red Notices. The most comprehensive source of data on Red Notices is that held by the Interpol General Secretariat.
	There are 190 Interpol member countries. The data relating to the subjects of Red Notices are owned by the country which has requested the Notice and cannot be released without the permission of that country. To ask each country for details of any of its Red Notices which concern British citizens could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and would not necessarily guarantee a response.

Interpol: Europol

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent Europol shares information with Interpol; and what steps Europol takes to ensure that information it relies on has not been obtained by Interpol in breach of human rights.

James Brokenshire: The 2001 Agreement between Interpol and Europol provides for the exchange of operational, strategic and technical information. The agreement includes in Article 5(2) a ban on the processing of information which has clearly been obtained in obvious violation of human rights.

Ketamine

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she will take in response to the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs' recommendation that ketamine be reclassified as a Class B drug.

Norman Baker: We welcome the Advisory Council's advice in light of the growing concerns around the harms associated with ketamine misuse. We will respond to the recommendations in due course.

Legal Aid Scheme

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of how many small and medium-sized legal practices in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England are likely to close as a result of the Government's proposed changes in legal aid.

Shailesh Vara: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	On 5 September 2013 the Government published its response to the ‘Transforming Legal Aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system’ consultation and, simultaneously, published proposals for further consultation on a modified model of procurement for criminal legal aid.
	Under the proposed modified model, there would be an unlimited number of ‘Own Client Work’ contracts on offer meaning that organisations of any size would be able to get a contract to deliver criminal legal aid services to any client who requests them, provided they can show they meet the necessary quality requirements. To ensure there is sufficient coverage of quality service supply for those individuals who do not have their own provider, we proposed to maintain a duty provider scheme. In order for that scheme to be sustainable at the rates of pay on offer we proposed to offer fewer, larger contracts to organisations capable of showing they meet the necessary quality and capacity requirements.
	To help inform the number of Duty Provider Work contracts to offer we need to take account of a number of factors including the ability of the current providers to consolidate and grow their businesses and the financial viability of contract values. To help inform this work we commissioned, jointly with the Law Society, a piece of research into the appropriate number and size of contracts necessary to ensure a sustainable and viable market. This work has not yet concluded. We are also in the process of considering the responses to the consultation.
	The Government response to consultation due to be published in early 2014 will be accompanied by an impact assessment.

Legislation

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on compliance costs for enforcement of legislation relating to (a) academic institutions and (b) marriages in each of the last five years; how many full-time equivalent staff work on such compliance activity; and what estimate she has made of the amount her Department will spend annually on compliance with new legislation relating to (i) private sector landlords and (ii) NHS staff.

Mark Harper: We do not hold information at the level requested for parts (a) and (b) in terms of either spending or staff and to provide this would involve disproportionate cost.
	Details of spending in Crime and Enforcement Group (part of the former UK Border Agency) can be found in the UKBA annual accounts and can be viewed on the Home Office website via the following link:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/annual-reports-accounts/
	The Government has published impact assessments in relation to provisions in the Immigration Bill concerning residential tenancies and the immigration health surcharge. These assessments set out the costs and benefits of the proposed schemes. They are available on the Parliament website at:
	http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/immigration/documents.html

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister of Immigration dated 31 October 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Peter Solaja.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister of Immigration dated 4 November 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs S Parveen.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Sultanat Khan Ahmad Khan.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2013.

National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the National Crime Agency on its work in Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with the National Crime Agency to discuss its work, including its work in Northern Ireland.

National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the operation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire: The new National Crime Agency (NCA) launched on 7 October 2013. It is operating across the UK, including in Northern Ireland. As the Northern Ireland Executive did not agree to take forward a legislative consent motion for the NCA, the Agency's operations in Northern Ireland are more restricted than in the rest of the UK.

National Crime Agency: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what activities the National Crime Agency currently conducts in Scotland.

James Brokenshire: The National Crime Agency (NCA) is UK-wide, and it leads, supports and co-ordinates activity to fight and cut serious and organised crime across the whole of the UK, including in Scotland. The NCA’s annual plan (published October 2013) provides details of the exercise of the agency’s functions in Scotland. The plan is available on the NCA website at:
	http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/

Offences Against Children

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2013, Official Report, column 313W, on offences against children, who authorised the destruction of 114 potentially relevant files; on what date they were destroyed; and if she will list the title of each file identified by the review that was passed on to the police in the period 1979 to 1999.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 December 2013
	I refer to the answer given on 9 October 2013, Official Report, column 313W, by the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims. This stated that the relevant files had been presumed destroyed, missing or not found. There is no information therefore held on dates of destruction or authorisation.
	Through the publication of the Terms of Reference and the Executive Summaries of both the interim and final report the Home Office has made available all the relevant findings from this review.

Offences Against Children: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dedicated staff at GCHQ will be appointed to tackle the problem of child abuse material being shared on peer-to-peer networks; what the budget will be of the new taskforce; how it will be organised; which Minister she has appointed to lead on that project; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 19 December 2013
	The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), chaired the first meeting of the UK/US Taskforce to Counter Online Child Exploitation jointly with the US Assistant Attorney-General on 9 December 2013, and he will be leading on this work.
	The Taskforce aims to work with the online industry to stop the internet being used to abuse children by delivering solutions to the most challenging technological problems. Joanna Shields, the CEO of Tech City UK and the UK's business ambassador for Digital Industries, will lead the industry engagement for the taskforce through the Industry Solutions Group. The taskforce will run for one year and will report on its achievements to the Prime Minister and the US Attorney-General by November 2014. The taskforce will have no direct budget.
	Secretariat support to the taskforce will be provided by the Home Office from existing budgets.
	The issue of peer-to-peer networks is already the subject of a programme of work. Google and Microsoft will take part in a pilot project with the Internet Watch Foundation and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command of the National Crime Agency (NCA) to identify the means to remove pathways to child sexual abuse. The NCA works closely with many partners including GCHQ by sharing intelligence, capabilities and expertise.

Overseas Students

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to make a comprehensive estimate of the number of non-EU international students who leave the UK at the end of their studies.

Mark Harper: The Office for National Statistics long-term international migration data now include estimates of the numbers of students leaving the UK. The ONS has recently improved its methodology to make it easier to identify students in the emigration flows to give a more accurate measure of the contribution of students to overall net migration. These statistics, available for the first time in August 2013, showed an estimated 49,000 non-EU students left the UK in 2012 compared with 139,000 who arrived during the same year. Further analysis of these statistics will make it possible, in due course, to determine with greater certainty how many students leave the UK and how many stay for longer periods.
	The Home Office has undertaken research using administrative data to improve our understanding of migrants coming to the UK, their countries of origin, their purpose for migrating and how long they stay. The research examines cohorts of migrants arriving in the UK and tracks their immigration status over the following five years. The Migrant Journey Third Report (2013)1 reported that around one in five (18%) of migrants issued student visas in 2006 have legally remained in the immigration system or settled in the UK after five years. In terms of settlement, those coming to the UK to study in 2006 contributed 13% of settlement grants in 2009, and 16% of grants in 2010 and 2011. The figures of course do not capture any students that may have remained unlawfully.
	1 Home Office (2013) The Migrant Journey Third Report, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/143930/horr69-report.pdf

Passports: Fingerprints

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the likely cost to the public purse of adding fingerprint verification to second generation passports.

Mark Harper: In line with the Government's policy in 2010 to halt the next generation of biometric passports which was due to explore fingerprint technology in passports, the Home Office has no reliable estimate at this time of what the likely cost of this would be.

Passports: ICT

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times automatic passport reading machines have been idle since 31 May 2013.

Mark Harper: The ePassport gates opening times are in line with operational requirements (for example, they may not open when there are no incoming flights). Since 31 May 2013, the ePassport gates have been closed for 0.6% of the time during operating hours for maintenance reasons.

Passports: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the Scottish Government's proposal to continue to recognise any currently valid UK passports until their expiry date in the event of Scottish independence, as proposed in the Scottish Government document: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

Mark Harper: UK passports are the property of the UK Government. Only the UK Government can decide on the validity of those passports.
	In the event of Scottish independence, it would be for a future Government of an independent Scottish state to decide which passports from other sovereign states it would recognise. This would include the passports of the continuing UK.

Pay Television

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether offices of (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies have access to Sky Sports or an equivalent premium sports television service; and what the cost to the public purse is in each case.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not subscribe to Sky Sports; however, a small number of offices have access to the parliamentary annunciator service. The annunciator service gives information about parliamentary proceedings, including live feeds from the Commons and Lords Chambers and Westminster Hall, on screens throughout the parliamentary estate. The feed received by Home Office includes the same channels, including Sky Sports, as are provided in the Palace of Westminster. There is no extra cost to the Home Office.

Police: Dogs

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) dogs and (b) dog handlers were employed by each police force in each year from 2008 to 2013.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not hold information on dogs centrally. The table provided contains data on the number of police workers employed as dog handlers and their supporting staff for each police force area between March 2009 and March 2013.
	
		
			 Number of police workers1, 2 (full-time equivalent) employed in the dogs3 function, by police force area, March 2009 to March 20134 
			  March 2009 March 2010 March 2011 March 2012 March 2013 
			 Avon and Somerset 43 41 39 34 43 
			 Bedfordshire 11 10 9 8 9 
			 Cambridgeshire 19 20 19 18 13 
			 Cheshire 25 25 26 23 26 
			 Cleveland 23 21 23 21 18 
			 Cumbria 15 13 16 16 16 
			 Derbyshire 25 25 24 22 23 
			 Devon and Cornwall 51 49 49 0 0 
			 Dorset 20 20 20 20 19 
			 Durham 21 29 29 29 25 
			 Dyfed-Powys 23 21 21 20 22 
			 Essex 52 51 52 51 45 
			 Gloucestershire 16 16 16 17 16 
			 Greater Manchester 53 48 51 52 53 
			 Gwent 17 18 18 18 18 
			 Hampshire 40 40 38 41 34 
			 Hertfordshire 28 21 20 19 16 
		
	
	
		
			 Humberside 28 28 28 25 23 
			 Kent 45 44 44 46 38 
			 Lancashire 20 21 21 18 18 
			 Leicestershire 26 24 25 26 23 
			 Lincolnshire 19 20 19 21 20 
			 London, City of 17 17 19 19 13 
			 Merseyside 54 55 47 47 46 
			 Metropolitan Police 63 79 71 167 152 
			 Norfolk 19 20 18 17 18 
			 Northamptonshire 12 11 11 12 10 
			 Northumbria 63 60 54 53 51 
			 North Wales 11 8 11 11 10 
			 North Yorkshire 22 22 22 21 19 
			 Nottinghamshire 28 35 32 23 16 
			 South Wales 42 48 48 46 40 
			 South Yorkshire 49 50 48 42 47 
			 Staffordshire 24 21 21 22 22 
			 Suffolk 13 12 13 11 10 
			 Surrey 44 44 42 38 39 
			 Sussex 41 43 42 42 39 
			 Thames Valley 44 43 45 35 35 
			 Warwickshire 16 15 11 9 9 
			 West Mercia 36 40 37 36 37 
			 West Midlands 70 71 72 70 66 
			 West Yorkshire 61 58 53 47 38 
			 Wiltshire 20 18 13 12 18 
			 Total 43 forces 1,367 1,374 1,334 1,325 1,250 
			 1 Police workers includes police officers, police staff and police community support officers. 2 There may appear to be small discrepancies between the totals and the sums of the constituent items as the figures are presented to the nearest whole number but are actually provided unrounded. 3 Dog handlers including those employed for general policing, drugs and explosive detection duties. Includes staff who are predominantly employed within dogs sections other than dog handlers. Includes those officers/staff in supporting roles. 4 Data for March 2012 and March 2013 has been previously published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales. Source: Home Office

Publications

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons her Department's Balance of Compliance study was not published on 11 December 2013; and when she intends to publish this study.

Mark Harper: The Government intends to publish the next round of reports as part of the Balance of Competences Review in due course.

Sexual Offences

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sexual offences reported to the police in the last five years occurred (a) more than 20 years ago, (b) between one and 20 years ago and (c) in the last year.

Norman Baker: As part of this Government's ongoing commitment to reduce administrative burdens on the police, the Home Office is developing a Data Hub, which makes it easier for police forces to supply data directly to the Home Office from their systems for subsequent collation and analysis. Fourteen police forces are now live on the Data Hub, with the remainder anticipated to go live during 2014.
	Data on when sexual offences occurred are available for around half of all forces from the data hub for the last two years, covering the period from July 2011 to June 2013. These data are shown in the table. They are taken from a live database, and are subject to change when forces revise data. Because they only represent a subset of forces, the total numbers of sexual offences will not match national totals.
	
		
			 Number of sexual offences recorded by the police, by the date when they occurred 
			  Numbers of sexual offences recorded 
			 Date offence occurred Year to June 2012 Year to June 2013 
			 In the last year 16,939 17,799 
			 1-20 years ago 4,033 4,664 
			 More than 20 years ago 1,469 2,838 
			 Total 22,441 25,301 
			 Notes: 1. This data is taken from a subset of 23 forces who provided full and reliable data on sexual offences to the data hub. As a result, the total number of sexual offences shown is considerably lower than the published total for all forces. 2. As more forces go live on the data hub, the numbers in the table will increase.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the Scottish Government’s proposal for joint working between the UK and Scottish security services in the early period after independence, contained in the Scottish Government document, Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

James Brokenshire: The UK Government believes that Scotland is stronger within the UK and the UK stronger with Scotland in it. We are not contingency planning for independence. While the UK endeavours to work with other countries and international organisations to improve security and fight organised crime to everyone’s mutual benefit, being an integral part of the UK is qualitatively different to being outside it. Issues of national security are of the utmost sensitivity, linked to a country’s foreign, security and defence policy posture, and any decisions are closely related to matters of sovereignty and democratic accountability.
	For this reason, a security union is inseparable from a political union. The creation of an independent Scottish state would mean an end to the current arrangements for ensuring Scotland’s security, as Scotland, including Police Scotland, would no longer be part of the UK’s national security infrastructure and capabilities.

Stop and Search: Essex

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to ensure that her Department’s review of police stop and search powers will enable Essex police to continue to take the same action to deter anyone from carrying a knife in Clacton.

Norman Baker: The Government is clear that stop and search powers are useful tools for the police in the fight against crime, particularly knife crime. The recent public consultation sought the views of the public on stop and search through various themes, including the effectiveness of the powers as they are currently used.
	The Government is analysing the responses to the consultation on stop and search powers and will publish its conclusions in due course.

Witnesses

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of appeals for witnesses in criminal investigations.

Damian Green: Information relating to the effectiveness of appeals for witnesses in criminal investigations is not collected centrally and would be a matter for individual police forces.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 177453 from the hon. Member for Gillingham and Rainham, tabled on 22 November 2013 for answer on 27 November 2013.

Mark Harper: I replied to my hon. Friend on 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 394W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

AEA Group

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the takeover of the AEA Technology Pension Scheme by the Pension Protection Fund, what steps he is taking to protect members of the scheme and resolve outstanding funding discrepancies, including the loss of inflation protection and the capping of certain pension benefits.

Steve Webb: At the time of wind up of any insolvent scheme the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) carries out a detailed examination of the scheme’s assets and liabilities. The final data produced by PPF will differ from any previously published company deficit figures as those previously published are usually a “snapshot” using an accounting basis that assumes an ongoing scheme with an element of higher investment return.
	The PPF pays a standard level of compensation to members of occupational pension schemes whose employer has become insolvent, and where there are insufficient assets in the pension scheme to cover PPF levels of compensation.
	It would be unaffordable for the PPF to offer full compensation to everyone; its aim is to pay a meaningful level of compensation without placing an unaffordable financial burden on the continuing pension schemes which are responsible for paying the PPF levy.
	The PPF does not pay annual increases on the compensation it pays for pension service accrued before 1997 because prior to that date pension schemes were not required by law to make inflation related increases to all pensions in payment.
	We have recognised scheme members’ concerns about the effects of the cap on their compensation where they have been a member of one scheme for a long time. The Pensions Bill currently before Parliament contains measures to increase the compensation cap by 3% for every year of service over 20 years.

Assets

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has gained from asset sales since 2010.

Michael Penning: The Department leases the majority of its assets including land and buildings, desktop IT equipment, printers/copiers and telephony networks. The remaining owned assets consist primarily of bespoke developed software and software licences for which there is no external market or the terms of licences do not allow alternative use. For this reason asset sales are unusual.
	Since 2010, the following income from the sale of fixed assets has been recorded in the Department's accounts:
	
		
			 Financial year Income from sale of fixed assets (£) 
			 2009-10 1277.265 
			 2010-11 96 
			 2011-12 0 
			 2012-13 25,981 
			 1 The value recorded in 2009-10 represents the income from the sale of the Department's official vehicles prior to entering into a lease arrangement for the provision and maintenance of official vehicles. 2 The value recorded in 2012-13 relates to the sale of some items of specialist IT equipment owned by the Department, i.e. not managed within the standard lease arrangements for fixed assets.

Atos Healthcare

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the targets for Atos are for (a) waiting times for medical assessments and (b) length of time for processing and completing paperwork relating to medical assessments; and how many times these targets have (i) been met and (ii) not been met in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The information is as follows:
	Employment and support allowance (ESA) target for Atos Healthcare
	Atos Healthcare is expected to clear work capability assessments within an actual average clearance target (AACT) of 35 working days. This is to handle the referral from the date it is received from the Department. The AACT achievement includes the time for processing and completing paperwork relating to assessments.
	Other Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits
	The AACT target for industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB) is 24 working days, for disability living allowance (DLA)/attendance allowance (AA) and tribunal service (TS) the target is 12 working days, Veterans Agency (VA) the target is 16 working days.
	The following tables give a breakdown of the number of targets set and the number of times Atos Healthcare has failed to meet those targets:
	
		
			 ESA 
			   Number 
			 From To Targets Failed 
			 30 November 2008 31 August 2009 226 69 
			 1 September 2009 31 August 2010 144 12 
			 1 September 2010 31 August 2011 148 25 
			 1 September 2011 31 August 2012 96 83 
			 1 September 2012 1 August 2013 96 63 
		
	
	
		
			 Other benefits 
			   Number 
			 From To Targets Failed 
			 1 September 2009 31 July 2010 297 41 
			 1 August 2010 31 August 2011 416 37 
			 1 September 2011 30 September 2012 416 73 
			 1 October 2012 31 October 2013 333 135 
		
	
	The Medical Service contract contains financial remedies where there are service level failures. These are described as service credits. Contractual performance and service credits are monitored and applied by the Department in accordance with contractual arrangements.

Atos Healthcare

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what timescale has been set for ATOS Healthcare to respond to correspondence from hon. Members on behalf of constituents; what advice his Department has given to ATOS Healthcare on improving its performance; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Atos Healthcare is required to provide a full response to each claimant or their representative within a 20 working day timescale as laid out in the contract. Where Atos Healthcare is unable to provide a full response within the required turnaround time they shall provide an update on what stage the response has reached, and the date the full response is expected shall be provided to the claimant or their representative.
	Officials meet regularly with Atos Healthcare to discuss issues associated with performance in line with the contractual obligations of both parties.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount of child maintenance that will be received by parents with care under the child maintenance 2012 scheme in each year up to and including 2017-18.

Steve Webb: The ‘Child maintenance reforms: CSA case closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements’ impact assessment available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259694/cm-case-closure-and-charges-regs-ia-final.pdf
	details the revenue raised as a result of the 20% paying parent fee and the 4% receiving parent fee across a transition period and in a steady state. The total amount of maintenance collected and paid through the 2012 collection service can be calculated from the resulting revenue raised. The following table breaks down the estimated maintenance collected through the 2012 scheme collection service by year.
	These collection figures do not include maintenance paid directly between parents ('Direct Pay') or maintenance paid as a result of family-based arrangements. The estimated numbers of Direct Pay arrangements set up through the 2012 scheme each year is included in the following table:
	
		
			  2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 
			 PWC collection fee revenue (£ million) 0.2 4.2 10.7 18.2 23.1 
			 Estimated collections (£ million) 3.9 104.7 268.3 455.4 578.4 
			 Direct Pay caseload (number) 21,200 87,600 185,600 277,800 322,400

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's final impact assessment of the Child Support Fees Regulations 2014, and pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Disabled People of 1 February 2012, Official Report, column 911, on Welfare Reform Bill, what assessment he has made of the costs of (a) establishing and (b) processing (i) application fees, (ii) non-resident parent collection fees, (iii) parent with care collection fees and (iv) enforcement fees.

Steve Webb: Specific separate costs of establishing and processing fees under the 2012 scheme are not available as this is all included in the automated business as usual process when using the 2012 scheme statutory service.
	It is not expected that collecting fees will increase caseworker effort on cases as this has been built into automated processes. With increased use of interfaces such as with HM Revenue and Customs and Jobcentre Plus it is expected that the overall process of maintaining cases will be more efficient and effective.
	The ‘Child maintenance reforms: CSA case closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements impact assessment available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment__data/file/259694/cm-case-closure-and-charges-regs-ia-final.pdf
	details the overall costs and benefits of introducing case closure, charging and increasing information and support to help parents make and keep family-based arrangements. Table A4 at page 36 details the costs and benefits in specific categories.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what savings his Department expects to achieve following the introduction of fees to use the new CMS collection service, (a) during the transition period of Child Support Agency case closure and (b) once the new statutory scheme is in steady state, as a result of the anticipated increase in the proportion of child maintenance cases where payments are made via Direct Pay rather than via the collection service.

Steve Webb: The ‘Child maintenance reforms: CSA case closure, introducing CMS fees, supporting family-based arrangements’ impact assessment is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259694/cm-case-closure-and-charges-regs-ia-final.pdf
	details the overall costs and benefits of introducing case closure, charging and increasing information and support to help parents make and keep family-based arrangements. Table A4 at page 36 details the costs and benefits in specific categories.

Cold Weather Payments

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who are eligible to claim cold weather payments in 2013-14; and what estimate he has made of the expected number of such eligible people in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2016-17 and (d) 2017-18.

Steve Webb: The information for 2013-14 can be found in the Commons Library document DEP2013-1751 table showing estimated number of people qualifying for payments at each weather station in the UK, available at the following link:
	http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2013-1751/2013-14_CWP_Estimated_Qualifers_for_HoC_Library.xls
	There are no figures available for the estimated volume of people eligible for cold weather payments from 2014-15 onwards. The expenditure forecast methodology, agreed by the Office for Budget Responsibility, assumes the following volumes of payments based on an average of the 10 years 2003-04 to 2012-13 plus an incremental increase under the universal credit policy:
	
		
			  Estimated cold weather payments (million) 
			 2014-15 5.12 
			 2015-16 5.14 
			 2016-17 5.26 
			 2017-18 5.40 
			 Source: Department for Work and Pensions: Benefit Expenditure Tables, 20 December 2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure-tables

Cycling

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Government's Cycle to Work scheme.

Michael Penning: After careful consideration of the costs, opportunities and consequences of offering a formal Cycle to Work scheme, this Department decided not to run a formal Cycle to Work scheme. Instead, it continues to offer alternative discount schemes to buy bicycles.
	Employees who wish to purchase a bicycle can take advantage of two simple, good value schemes. The Salary Advance scheme offers employees an advance of their salary for the purchase of a bicycle and associated equipment for the purpose of travelling to work. The Employee Discount scheme offers an attractive discount on the price of a bicycle and associated equipment from suppliers.

Disadvantaged: EU Grants and Loans

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to seek funding from the European Aid to the Most Deprived Fund to support food banks in the UK;
	(2)  what criteria the Government has applied in determining its bid to the European Aid to the Most Deprived Fund.

Esther McVey: The Government do not support the creation of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived. We believe that it is inconsistent with the principle of subsidiarity. Food and material aid measures are better and more efficiently delivered by individual member states through their own social programmes and their regional and local authorities. Both Houses of Parliament submitted reasoned opinions on the European Commission's proposal to the Presidents of the European Union institutions.
	The current proposal for the fund would give each member state an allocation. This would not be additional money, but would be taken from a member state's Structural Funds allocation. The UK would receive the minimum allocation of €3.5 million which would be taken from its Structural Funds allocation. We believe the money would be better invested through the Structural Funds for regional development, employment, skills and social inclusion initiatives. The UK will not lose EU funding by receiving the minimum allocation.

Employment and Support Allowance

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of successful appeals to decisions on eligibility for employment and support allowance are subsequently recalled for interview; and what the average time is between the appeal and recall for interview.

Esther McVey: All successful appellants will be reassessed either by interview—the vast majority—or on paper evidence. Information on the average time between the appeal and reassessment is not collected.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of contributory employment and support allowance have stopped receiving this benefit after one year since 1 April 2012; and how many of such people have gone on to receive income-related employment and support allowance.

Esther McVey: Statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) off-flows by payment type and duration of the claim can be found at:
	http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/tabtool.html
	Guidance for users is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance
	The rest of the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Employment and Support Allowance: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people made claims for employment and support allowance in each London borough in each of the last 12 months; and what the average waiting time was for work capability assessments to be undertaken in each borough.

Michael Penning: Information about the numbers of people who have made claims for employment and support allowance in each London borough in the last 12 months is not available in the format requested and information about the average waiting time for work capability assessments in each borough is not readily available.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the success of the Work Choice wage incentive for young people.

Esther McVey: The independent evaluation of Work Choice found that many employers think the Work Choice wage incentive is, in principle, attractive. For some smaller employers in particular, it has been pivotal in their decision to recruit a young person from Work Choice.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the role of (a) personal budgets and (b) individual placement and support in the delivery of Work Choice.

Esther McVey: The use of personal budgets for Work Choice eligible customers has been trialled in seven trailblazers in England as part of the Right to Control pilot, which ended at midnight on 12 December 2013. Evidence from the evaluations and any further information gathered during the extension of Right to Control Trailblazers will be used to inform future decisions.
	Work Choice providers have the freedom to tailor their support to the individual, and this may include using the individual placement and support model. As part of the Disability and Health Employment Strategy, we are exploring how the new specialist offer can make greater use of supported employment and specifically the ‘place and train’ approach, with the individual working with their specialist adviser to determine the right job for them and how many hours they can work.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applicants were waiting for referral to Work Choice in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Esther McVey: DWP does not collate this data.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to respond to the Independent Advisory Panel Report on Residential Training College Provision.

Michael Penning: On 17 December we published ‘The Disability and Health Employment Strategy: the discussion so far’, which refers to Residential Training as part of our current provision but does not imply any change for the future. We are still exploring all options and will announce our response to the Independent Advisory Panel Report, including which recommendations will be incorporated into the provision going forward, in due course.

Employment Schemes: Disability

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to expand Work Choice to (a) internships and (b) voluntary work.

Esther McVey: There are currently no plans to expand Work Choice to internships or voluntary work.

Employment: Scotland

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to increase employment on the west coast of Scotland.

Esther McVey: Employment in Scotland on the year is up 83,000 and private sector employment is up 76,000 on the year.
	On the west coast of Scotland, parliamentary constituencies including Argyll and Bute, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Central Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and Arran and Ross, Skye and Lochaber have all seen a fall in the claimant count over the last year. Across these constituencies as a whole, 3.7% of the population aged 16-64 is claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA), a fall of 0.8 percentage points over the last year.
	Jobcentre Plus advisers can offer a variety of support to individual claimants including help with: job search, careers advice, boosting literacy, numeracy and language skills, other skills training, work experience, setting up a business, and some locally tailored provision.
	The Work programme provides support, work experience and training for up to two years to help claimants that are long-term unemployed or face significant challenges, to find and stay in work.
	Claimants who do not find sustained work during their time on the Work programme receive intensive Jobcentre Plus support to build on their time on the Work programme. From April 2014, under 'Help to Work', this will be expanded to include Community Work Placements.

EU Social Policy

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which public funds are classified by the EU as (a) social assistance and (b) social security for the purposes of interpreting requirements of the EU Treaty; and what the differences are between the criteria applied by the UK Government to measures classified by the EU as social assistance and those classified as social security.

Esther McVey: EU law does not explicitly define the terms social assistance and social security. Social security benefits fall within the scope of EU Regulation 883/2004 and EU Regulation 1408/71 on co-ordination of social security systems. The regulations provide that social security benefits relate to specific areas such as unemployment and sickness. Social assistance benefits fall outside the scope of those regulations. European Court of Justice case-law has developed the definition of social assistance benefits. Social assistance is provided in order to ensure a minimum means of subsistence as a result of an assessment of personal needs and circumstances. The case law distinguishes social security benefits on the basis that they are linked to certain branches of social security and are granted or refused on the basis of objective, legally defined criteria.

Food Banks

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish details of the process by which individuals are signposted to food banks by Jobcentre Plus; and what guidance his Department gives on the provision of written reasons when signposting.

Esther McVey: Since 2011, Jobcentre Plus has signposted claimants in crisis to local food banks. This is only when we have checked there was no other support available. When signposting to food banks a Food bank Signposting Slip is issued to claimants which contains claimant details and details of a local foodbank. However, the decision on providing assistance lies with the food bank and not with Jobcentre Plus.

Guaranteed Minimum Pensions

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of people affected by ending the payment of guaranteed minimum pension increases;
	(2)  what impact assessment his Department has conducted of ending the payment of guaranteed minimum pension increases;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the average loss to persons affected by ending the payment of guaranteed minimum pension increases;
	(4)  what estimate his Department has made of the total saving to the public purse as a result of ending the payment of guaranteed minimum pension increases.

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions does not pay increases on guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs). GMPs are occupational pension scheme benefits which were accrued between 1978 and 1997. Pension schemes are liable for any statutory indexation of GMPs, and this liability will not change as a result of the single tier reforms. The Department for Work and Pensions pays state pension benefits and their indexation, including additional state pension (SERPS and S2P) and basic state pension.
	Additional state pension and GMPs are linked in that when a person reaches pensionable age, the total amount of GMP is subtracted from the total amount of additional state pension built up between 1978 and 1997, and any net amount is paid. This subtraction of the total GMP amount is called a ‘contracted-out deduction’, and reflects that reduced national insurance was paid during the period of contracting out in return for meeting legislative requirements. This calculation is performed each year that the pension is payable.
	There is no statutory obligation on schemes to pay increases on GMPs accrued between 1978 and 1988. However, additional state pension built up during that period is subject to increases. When the contracted-out deduction is subtracted from the additional state pension, the remaining additional state pension includes an increase linked to prices. In this way, an amount broadly equivalent to the GMP, but which is in fact additional state pension, is subject to an increase. Schemes are under an obligation to pay increases on GMPs accrued between 1988 and 1997, subject to a cap of 3%.
	With the introduction of single tier, the additional state pension will close, as will the facility to contract out. For those reaching state pension age from April 2016, we will value their national insurance record to that point. We will compare what state pension the single-tier rules would give them with what they have built up as at April 2016 under the current system. The higher of these two valuations will become the individual’s ‘foundation amount’.
	As set out in the White Paper, the design of the transition will benefit many people with a history of contracting out. In effect, these individuals may be able to offset their contracted-out deduction with further qualifying years until they reach the full amount of single tier. This means that many individuals who have previously been contracted-out may receive more state pension than they would have under the current system.
	The Department estimates that over 2 million people will reach state pension age in the five years after the introduction of single tier, of whom around 40% to 45% will have been contracted out of private and public sector defined benefit schemes between 1978 and 1988. From 1988 onwards, the facility to contract out was extended to people in defined contribution schemes. By the mid 2030s over 80% of people reaching state pension age will have had a deduction for being contracted out factored into their transitional calculations and many will be able to benefit from the transition described above, as well as from the indexation arrangements for single tier compared to the current arrangements for additional pension and basic state pension.
	The single tier reforms will cost no more than the existing system, and expenditure is projected to be within 1% of current spending until the late 2030s. The impacts of the single tier reforms have been captured in the impact assessment for single tier, which is published online. We estimate that those who hold GMPs are no more likely to have a lower outcome as a result of the reforms overall than the rest of the population.

Jobcentre Plus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus offices have closed since 2010.

Esther McVey: 23 Jobcentre Plus offices have closed since April 2010. The services they provided have been relocated to a nearby jobcentre or are delivered through, for example, local authority premises.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department issues to decision makers in Jobcentre Plus on the eligibility for jobseeker's allowance of unemployed people who are studying regularly for less than 16 hours per week.

Esther McVey: Guidance on the eligibility to jobseeker's allowance for jobseekers who are studying for less than 16 hours per week is available publicly in the Decision Makers' Guide. Chapters 21 and 30 provide guidance on jobseeker's allowance and students and can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256990/dmg-vol4-ch21.pdf
	and here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251817/dmg-vol6-ch30.pdf
	Paragraphs 21238 to 21252 in Chapter 21 and paragraphs 30146 et seq. in Chapter 30 contain the relevant guidance.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps jobcentres take to ensure that jobseeker's allowance claimants are aware that they can apply for hardship grants.

Esther McVey: Where a benefit doubt is identified and the case is being referred to a decision maker, claimants are given information (verbally and in writing) about the doubt in question, what happens next, what they can do if a sanction is applied and the availability of jobseeker's allowance under the hardship provision.
	Once a decision is made and a sanction applied, a formal notification is issued to the claimant, which includes information about the availability of jobseeker's allowance under the hardship provision.
	Where the Department for Work and Pensions is unable to help claimants they will be signposted to other types of support in their areas, including local authorities.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants sanctions were subsequently overturned on appeal in each of the last five years.

Esther McVey: Statistics on the number of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) sanctions overturned on appeal, up to 21 October 2012 (the last date of the old regulations), can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/series/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool
	From 22 October 2012, new regulations introduced a regime of fixed period sanctions, which replaced the existing sanction rules and moved claimants closer to the sanction regime planned for universal credit in 2013. This data, up to June 2013, can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions
	Guidance for users is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203439/tab-tool-guidance.pdf
	The numbers from this published information can be used to calculate the proportions requested.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps jobcentres take to ensure that jobseeker's allowance claimants are aware that they may appeal sanction decisions.

Esther McVey: Where a doubt about benefit entitlement is identified and the case is being referred to a decision maker, claimants are given information (verbally and in writing) about the doubt in question, what happens next and what they can do if a sanction is applied and they wish to appeal.
	Once a decision is made and a sanction applied, a formal notification is issued to the claimant, which includes information about their rights of appeal.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what additional training has been provided to Jobcentre Plus advisers and decision makers ensuring that his new jobseeker's allowance sanctions regime is implemented fairly and as a last resort; and what steps he is taking to ensure that such advisers and decision makers have a basic knowledge of local support or advice services which they can direct their customers to after sanctions have been issued.

Esther McVey: In responding to this question, we have made the assumption that it relates to the strengthened sanctions regime introduced in October 2012 and has therefore been generated as a result of the recent release of statistical data relating to sanctions.
	All Decision-Makers (DMs) and Advisers have access to comprehensive and clear procedures, guidance and extensive learning which equips them to apply conditionality with unbiased discretion to reach fair and consistent decisions.
	The DMs' learning equips them to make decisions by considering all the evidence and applying the law, including any relevant case law, to the facts of each case. Where the legislation specifies or implies discretion, the learning provides the knowledge, understanding of the law and skills to weigh the evidence and to make a decision.
	Advisers have access to a comprehensive programme of Adviser skills workshops, designed to build not only knowledge but also focus on the skills advisers need in order to understand the importance of a personalised and individual approach and the impact this may have on claimants' ability to move into sustainable employment.
	Building on this comprehensive learning, Advisers and Decision Makers undertook specific learning to support their understanding of the strengthened sanction regime. This included:
	a detailed explanation of the strengthened sanction regime.
	repeated instructions for Advisers to explain the effect of sanctions on claimants—before a sanctionable failure occurs.
	explanations about how sanctions escalate—including when they should not escalate.
	detailed instructions for calculating the correct length of sanction.
	that where a claimant has a Good Reason for a failure a sanction must not be imposed.
	confirmation that Advisers can, in certain circumstances, treat failure to attend an adviser interview as straightforward (so no referral to a DM is needed).
	the circumstances where a DM should not apply a sanction.
	This learning has subsequently been incorporated into the learning routeways for Advisers and Decision Makers for people newly in post after October 2012.
	Where a doubt about benefit entitlement is identified and the case is being referred to a decision maker, claimants are given information (verbally and in writing) about the doubt in question, what happens next and what they can do if a sanction is applied and they wish to appeal. They are also given information about the availability of jobseeker's allowance under the hardship provision.
	Supporting guidance for advisers includes the District Provision Tool (DPT) which is present in all Jobcentre Plus districts. This is a set of intranet pages having a standard national format but containing local information, local provision and more general support such as websites and contact telephone numbers for organisations that may be able to help the claimant.
	Once a decision is made and a sanction applied, a formal notification is issued to the claimant, which includes information about the availability of jobseeker's allowance under the hardship provision and the claimants' rights of appeal.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Swindon

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time in receipt of jobseeker's allowance is for claimants in Swindon aged (a) 16 to 24, (b) 25 to 49 and (c) over 50 years.

Esther McVey: Statistics on the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants in Swindon by age and duration of claim can be found at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp
	Guidance for users can be found at:
	https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Multiple Births

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to help the higher one-off costs of childcare of families who have had multiple births.

Steve Webb: DWP provides the sure start maternity grant (SSMG), a lump sum payment of £500 for each newborn child to help towards baby and maternity costs where there is no other child under 16 in the family. It is payable for a child (or children where it is a multiple birth) that is expected, born, adopted, the subject of a parental order (following a surrogate birth), or the subject of a residence order (in certain circumstances). The grant is available to recipients, and partners of recipients, of a qualifying benefit or tax credit. These are: income support, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker's allowance, pension credit, child tax credit (at a rate higher than the family element), or working tax credit (which includes a disability or a severe disability element).
	Where there already is at least one child under 16 in the family, then the position is more complicated. The underlying rule is a SSMG may be paid in respect of a multiple birth where there is already a child under the age of 16 in the family but only in respect of the additional children of the subsequent multiple birth. Some examples of how this works are as follows:
	Example 1: Claimant has a child aged 10 but is now expecting twins. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will be payable for one of the new babies.
	Example 2: Claimant already has a set of twins aged 6 and is expecting another set of twins. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will not be payable.
	Example 3: Claimant already has a set of twins aged 8 but is now expecting triplets. A Sure Start Maternity Grant will be paid for the additional child.

Multiple Births

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate the Government has made of the number of mothers who give up work after having multiple births.

Esther McVey: The Office for National Statistics, which is responsible for publishing information on flows into and out of work using the Labour Force Survey, has confirmed that it does not hold the information necessary to estimate how many mothers give up work after a multiple birth.

Pension Credit

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of eligible pensioners that do not currently receive pension credit in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with pensioner representatives on the under-claiming of pension credit;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the reasons for which some eligible pensioners do not claim pension credit;
	(4)  what steps he is taking to increase the number of eligible pensioners who receive pension credit in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK.

Steve Webb: The Government are committed to ensuring pensioners receive the support they are entitled to. I regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders and customer representative groups on a range of issues including access to pensioner benefits. DWP's National Partnerships Team works with over 4,400 customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for pensioners.
	DWP introduced a web-based pension credit toolkit at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit
	Its purpose is to provide customer representative organisations with all the information needed in order to talk to pensioners about pension credit. In partnership with Age UK, local authorities and other groups, a structured campaign was undertaken to create awareness of the toolkit among those who support our customers.
	In addition, DWP makes information available in various locations (for example, our website at https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits, and leaflets available from our DWP Information Line on 0845 7313233) to ensure that people are aware of the benefits to which they may be entitled and how to claim them.
	With respect to income-related benefits, when a customer makes a claim to state pension or reports a change in their circumstances, a customer adviser also discusses a pension credit application with those who may be entitled. There is also a visiting service available to support vulnerable customers who are unable to access services through other channels. Pensioners can, where eligible, claim housing benefit alongside pension credit in a single phone call, without the need for a signed claim form. Calls to the 0800 claims number from a BT landline or from the six largest mobile phone networks are free.
	The Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-up report provides caseload and expenditure estimates of take-up for pension credit in Great Britain for the financial year 2009-10. The figures are available online and can be found here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=irb
	Estimates of take-up are not available at geographies below Great Britain. This is due to the size of the survey sample they are based on and methods used to generate robust national figures.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has published a number of studies looking into pension credit take-up, including the following:
	“Understanding the Relationship between the Barriers and Triggers to Claiming Pension Credit.” Bunt, K., Adams, L. and Leo, C. (2006): DWP Research Report No. 336:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130314010347/http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep336.pdf
	“Pension Credit eligible non-recipients: Barriers to claiming” by Lucy Radford, Lisa Taylor and Claire Wilkie. (2012) DWP Research Report No 819:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214374/rrep819.pdf
	The DWP ran a study which paid a sample of individuals their estimated pension credit entitlement without them having to make a claim, in order to test subsequent take-up, and explore their attitudes to this direct payment approach. The study showed that despite highlighting potential eligibility, many participants continued to believe they would not be entitled to pension credit, and as a consequence only 8.6% of the participants made a successful claim for pension credit following the study. The findings are published here:
	“Evaluation of the Pension Credit Payment Study” by Lucy Radford, James Holland, Natalie Maplethorpe, Mehul Kotecha and Sue Arthur (2012). DWP Research Reports No. 795 and 796:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/191738/795and796summ.pdf

Personal Independence Payment

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average waiting time is for his Department's response to an initial application for personal independence payment; what the overall success rate of those applications is; and how many such applications are subsequently taken to appeal;
	(2)  how many claims for personal independence payment (PIP) have been made in each month since the introduction of PIP in each region; what the average response time is in each region; and what the average time taken for claimants to be called for a personal assessment is.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green), 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 516W.
	Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service have recently published statistics which show that up to September 2013 14 appeals concerning personal independence payment had been directly lodged with HMCTS:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265150/tribunal-statistics-tables-jul-sept-2013.xls

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on delays and backlogs in personal independence payment assessments.

Michael Penning: Provider's performance has recently highlighted that in some cases the end-to-end assessment process is taking longer than originally anticipated and I have received a number of representations from MPs and organisations representing disabled people informing me of these issues.
	We are working with the providers to understand why the assessment process is sometimes taking longer than anticipated and to ensure service improvements are put in place to reduce the delays.

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made about the personal independence payment assessment since it was introduced.

Michael Penning: Personal independence payment started in April 2013. Complaints about the service offered by the assessment providers, including the nature or manner of the assessment, are made directly to the providers and not to the Department.

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to his Department is of disability assessments for personal independence payments.

Michael Penning: Personal independence payment (PIP) assessments are carried out on behalf of the Department by Atos Healthcare and Capita. Contracts are delivered in a regional Lot based approach.
	The information is available in the public domain at the following links on the Contracts Finder website.
	https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/Common/View%20Notice.aspx?site=1000&lang=en&noticeid=735933&fs=true
	https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/Common/View%20Notice.aspx?site=1000&lang=en&noticeid=740844&fs=true
	https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/Common/View%20Notice.aspx?site=1000&lang=en&noticeid=740846&fs=true

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for personal independence payments have been made since the scheme was introduced.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 516W, to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green).

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff carry out disability assessments for personal independence payments (a) nationally and (b) by region.

Michael Penning: We only hold details of the number of assessors for each assessment provider.
	Capita Healthcare Professional undertake assessments for Lot 2 covering east and west Midlands plus Wales and employ 172 assessors as of 13 December.
	Atos Healthcare undertake assessments for Lot 1 covering the north of England and Scotland and Lot 3 covering London and southern England and employ 440 assessors as of 8 November 2013.

Personal Independence Payment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines his Department has issued on how long a disability assessment for a personal independence payment should take.

Michael Penning: The Department has not issued any guidance on how long an assessment for PIP should take as it is important for us to get the assessment right and to give claimants the opportunity to tell the assessor how their health condition or disability effects them on a day-to-day basis. The length of assessments can vary considerably based on a number of factors including the claimant's individual circumstances.

Personal Independence Payment

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the maximum length of time is within which primary contractors are required to complete their part in personal independence payment assessments; and what assessment he has made of contractors' performance since 1 April 2013.

Michael Penning: We expect that once we are in a steady state the end-to-end assessment process, from DWP referring the case to the assessment provider to the assessment report being returned to DWP, should be completed within 30 working days in 97% of cases with on average no case taking longer than 40 working days. The key requirement is to produce high quality assessments.
	Our provider's performance has recently highlighted that in some cases the end-to-end assessment process is taking longer than originally anticipated. We have built robust expectations of performance into the contracts with the assessment providers and have a full set of service level agreements setting out the Department's expectations for service delivery, including quality of assessments and the number of days to provide advice to the Department. The contracts include a range of remedies which allow the Department to take action on minor as well as more significant poor performance and ultimately the Department has the right to terminate the contract if there is sustained underperformance.
	Officials meet regularly with assessment providers to discuss their performance in line with their contractual obligations and to ensure that all the steps in the assessment process are as smooth as they can be.

Personal Independence Payment

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal independence payment claims to date have been delayed since the applications were first made; what the average length of delay was; and how many of those delayed applications involved claimants with cancer.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) on 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 516W.
	Since the introduction of PIP new claims in April, we have been closely monitoring all aspects of the process. Our latest analysis is telling us that the end-to-end claiming journey is taking longer than expected both within DWP and with the providers. In particular providers are telling us that the assessment process, including booking appointments, gathering further evidence and providing assessment reports to DWP, is taking longer than expected. We are working with providers to ensure that all the steps in the process are as smooth as they can be.
	Although PIP is a new benefit, and the Department does not have a target for completion of claims while processes are bedding in, we do deal urgently with special rules claims for terminally ill claimants. We are making a number of changes within the Department for claimants and support organisations including establishing a dedicated telephone claims line for terminally ill claimants to make a new claim to PIP; creating a more rapid transfer of information between the Department and Assessment Providers and reducing the time it takes to get a DS1500 form in support of the PIP claim into the Department.

Personal Independence Payment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where final responsibility lies for delays with personal independence payment assessments; what the causes are of those delays; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Since the introduction of PIP new claims in April, we have been closely monitoring all aspects of the process. Our latest analysis is telling us that the end-to-end claimant journey is taking longer than expected both within DWP and with the providers.
	As PIP is a new benefit we are looking closely at how long the claimant journey, which is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pip-claim-process-overview-the-claimant-journey
	is taking against original estimates.
	We are working with providers to ensure that all the steps in the process are as smooth as they can be. We continue to look at our processes to ensure that satisfactory arrangements are in place to assess a person's entitlement to PIP.

Personal Independence Payment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average and (b) longest length of time is for a decision to be made for a personal independence payment (i) in the Brighton and Hove Local Authority area and (ii) nationally.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) on 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 516W.

Social Security Benefits

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people requested benefits advances in the most recent year for which figures are available; what proportion of those people received an advance; and what amount was received per person on average.

Esther McVey: The following information was gathered clerically primarily for internal use and has not been validated to the same extent as official/national statistics.
	
		
			 Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA) applications 1 April 2013 to 29 November 2013 
			  Number/£ 
			 Total STBA Requests received in Benefit Centres 238,517 
			 STBA refused because Primary Benefit can be paid 72,339 
			 STBA refused because Primary Benefit disallowed 87,408 
			 STBA requests referred to Decision Maker and allowed 54,496 
			 STBA requests referred to Decision Maker and disallowed 26,972 
			   
			 Total value of STBA awards paid (£) 3,174,911.83 
		
	
	There are a number of applications where the offer is rejected by the customer or where, at the point of payment, the offer is withdrawn and the primary benefit is paid instead. Data is not kept on the volume of these cases.

Social Security Benefits

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how much his Department spent on publicising benefits in (a) 1997, (b) 2001, (c) 2005, (d) 2010 and (e) 2012.

Michael Penning: The delivery agencies for this Department were created in April 2002, so figures prior to this date are not available.
	For the other years requested, in all cases I can provide figures for the publication of information leaflets about pensions and each of our benefits. While the Department does not actively ‘promote’ benefits generally, three exceptions were to increase awareness about pension credit, winter fuel allowance and council tax benefit. Where campaigns ran to promote these, figures for the years in question are also detailed.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2005 2010 2012 
			 Information leaflets (all benefits/pension) 110.3 21.26 20.41 
			 Pension credit 30.91 40.87 n/a 
			 Winter fuel allowance 31.42 40.22 n/a 
			 Council tax benefit 30.74 n/a n/a 
			 1 ‘Communicating with customers’ NAO HC 421 2 DWP budget records 3 PQ/10/312056 response draft 4 PQ/10/303400 response, 18 January 2010

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many sanctions Jobcentre Plus has issued in the last year due to a claimant undertaking part-time study being judged as not available for full-time work.

Esther McVey: Information on how many JSA sanctions Jobcentre Plus has issued in the last year, due to a claimant undertaking part-time study being judged as not available for full-time work, is not available.
	However, information on the number of sanction referrals for jobseeker's allowance, by reason “not being available for work”, from 22 October 2012 to 30 June 2013 can be found in Table 1.5 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many employment and support allowance claimants have a musculo-skeletal condition; and how many such claimants have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for a duration of over (a) two years and (b) five years;
	(2)  how many employment and support allowance claimants have a mental health condition; and how many of those claimants have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for a duration of over (a) two years and (b) five years.

Michael Penning: Statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants by medical condition and duration of their current claim can be found at:
	http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/
	Guidance for users is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance
	The specific information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for digital by default in the benefit system.

Michael Penning: We have successfully introduced a digital service for both jobseeker's allowance and state pension, which enables claimants to apply online if they prefer. Since August 2013, take up for jobseeker's allowance online has been exceeding 80%.
	We have also introduced Universal Jobmatch, which allows our working age claimants to search for jobs online. Universal credit, which is being rolled out gradually, is primarily a digital service.
	Work has been undertaken to develop a digital service for personal independence payment, carer's allowance and single-tier state pension, which covers a large part of the future benefit system. A beta version of the online claim service for carer's allowance went live to the public in October.
	We will continue to examine further opportunities for digitalisation in due course as part of the Government's strategy to be digital by default.

Social Security Benefits: Learning Disability

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provides to benefit claimants with reading and writing difficulties and who are new to using computers to use his Department's universal jobmatch service.

Esther McVey: For the majority of claimants, using Universal Jobmatch will be an important part of improving employment prospects. However, using the service may be less than straightforward for claimants who have reading and writing difficulties and who are new to using computers. Where a lack of basic or ICT skills is a barrier to finding work, the claimant will be referred either for an in-depth skills assessment with a training provider or directly to the most appropriate training.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will respond to the urgent e-mail sent by the hon. Member for Isle of Wight on 3 December 2013 relating to the availability of ATOS appointments on the Isle of Wight.

Michael Penning: I replied to my hon. Friend on 19 December 2013.

State Retirement Pensions

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will write to individuals with a statement of their foundation amount under the new state pension system.

Steve Webb: Effective communications are crucial to the success of the state pension reforms. The Department is committed to providing timely information to those affected. DWP is working with HMRC to develop a detailed communications strategy learning from the experience of implementing other pension reform. We will place a summary in the parliamentary Libraries in due course.
	We currently offer an on-demand state pension service. This will also be a feature of the new system, ensuring people have their up-to-date pension position including their foundation amount. As part of the implementation of the reforms we are looking at how we can modernise our services to meet customer needs. Raising awareness of the availability of the service and encouraging individuals to use it will form a key objective of our communications strategy.

Unemployed People: ICT

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of jobseekers do not have basic computer literacy skills; what support his Department provides to improve the basic computer literacy skills of jobseekers; and how his Department measures the performance of Jobcentre Plus in this area.

Esther McVey: The findings from the Skills for Life Survey 2011 (the most recent survey conducted) shows the following Information and communications technology (ICT) levels for respondents claiming JSA.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Word processing E-mail Spread sheet Multiple choice 
			  All Claiming JSA All Claiming JSA All Claiming JSA All Claiming JSA 
			 Entry Level 2 or below 43 61 31 46 39 58 9 16 
			 Entry Level 3 or above 57 39 69 54 61 42 91 84 
		
	
	Where a claimant's lack of skills is a barrier to them finding work they will be referred either for an in-depth skills assessment with a training provider or direct to the most appropriate training.
	DWP does not measure the performance of Jobcentre Plus in this specific area.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to self-employed claimants of universal credit of meeting the requirement to provide accounting information additional to that prepared for tax purposes when applying for that credit.

Esther McVey: Record-keeping and accounting is a process which businesses should already be doing in order to report income to HMRC.
	We have sought to minimise the burden on self-employed claimants when reporting to both DWP and HMRC by aligning the universal credit self-employed earnings reporting requirements as closely as possible with HMRC's new simplified cash basis accounting system, enabling claimants to keep similar accounts, for both purposes. Therefore claimants should already have the information they require for universal credit.
	Self-employment represents a very wide range of activities, so we cannot estimate any extra cost to self-employed claimants of reporting this information monthly to DWP, but regular monthly scrutiny of their businesses' financial records will give self-employed claimants a better handle on how their business is performing and can only assist in the preparation of accounts for their end of year tax self-assessment.
	We will continue to work closely with HMRC, stakeholders including self-employed people and their representative groups, and record-keeping software providers, to test and develop the best reporting mechanisms and guidance for universal credit and we believe this is the right way to avoid unnecessary burdens on self-employed businesses.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work on the universal credit project has been done offshore.

Esther McVey: Development of some of the Universal Credit IT system has previously been undertaken offshore. This was carried out at sites which were security checked and certificated to a high level. UK-based teams have rigorously inspected and tested IT developed offshore. All current IT development is taking place in the UK.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many internal reviews of the universal credit project there have been since 2011.

Esther McVey: As part of the Department’s governance of major programmes senior departmental officials regularly assess delivery and expenditure. The governance arrangements are agreed with the Major Projects Authority. DWP's Internal Audit team have reviewed the Universal Credit Programme continuously since 2011 to provide independent, objective assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of governance, risk management and control. The key issues highlighted from these reviews were considered within the NAO report, ‘Universal Credit: early progress’, published in September 2013.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) civil servants and (b) non-civil servants are currently working on development of the universal credit.

Esther McVey: Current resourcing data shows that there are currently 548.1 full-time equivalent civil servants supporting the Universal Credit Programme.
	For non-civil servants, as we do not contract on the basis of numbers but on specific pieces of work, it is each suppliers decision as to how many resources they decide appropriate to complete that work.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have moved on from working on the universal credit programme since its start.

Esther McVey: This level of detail is not available due to the way we resource our Change Programmes as resources flex in and out of a central change resource pool depending on delivery plans. However, as an indication the current resource turnover rate for DWP Corporate Change is 4.91%.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what involvement the Digital Government Service currently has in the development of the universal credit IT system.

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), on 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 65WS, which included an update on our work with the Government Digital Service and announced the next stage of universal credit implementation.

Universal Credit

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he made in 2011 of the suitability of using Agile IT methods to develop the universal credit IT system.

Esther McVey: As my colleague, the then Minister for Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban), stated in PQ 147495 on 12 March 2013, Official Report, column 205W, in a programme as complex as universal credit, which includes new IT developments and changes to existing IT assets, both agile and waterfall methods may be appropriate at different times. As examples, initial development used agile techniques while, in its final stages of testing for the pathfinder from April 2013, the programme is using the waterfall approach—a standard DWP testing methodology.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to pages 134-5 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s document Economic and fiscal outlook for December 2013 
	(1)  if he will set out the process by which his new plans for the delivery of universal credit will be approved by the (a) Treasury and (b) Major Projects Authority;
	(2)  by which date his new plans for the delivery of universal credit will get approval from (a) the Treasury and (b) the Major Projects Authority.

Esther McVey: HM Treasury and the Major Projects Authority have an ongoing role in approving and assuring our plans. The plans for delivering the next stage of implementation, announced on 5 December, will be subject to review between the new year and spring 2014.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likelihood that universal credit claimants will be able to migrate from the current IT infrastructure to the new digital solution by December 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: As we set out in our press notice of 5 December, current plans will see new claims to existing benefits closed during 2016. This will mean that all new benefit claimants across the country will claim universal credit instead of the legacy benefits like jobseeker’s allowance or housing benefit. Meanwhile, most of the existing benefit claimants will be moved over to universal credit during 2016 and 2017. Decisions on the later stages of universal credit roll out will also be informed by the completion of the enhanced IT and these decisions will determine the final details for how people transition to the new benefit.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the additional cost, compared to his current plans of (a) making universal credit payments fortnightly and (b) allowing universal credit claimants to split their payments between the two members of a couple once all claimants have been transferred to universal credit.

Esther McVey: Universal credit prepares claimants for the world of work in which 75% of employees are paid monthly and encourages claimants to take responsibility for their financial affairs. The Government understands, however, that the move to single monthly household payments is a significant change from the way many benefits are currently paid so is committed to providing support for those who need it. We recognised that for a minority of claimants alternative payment arrangements, including paying people more frequently or splitting payments may be required.
	Costings for making payments fortnightly and allowing all universal credit couples to have split payments are not available.

Welfare State: Reform

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cumulative impact of his Department's welfare reforms since May 2010 on (a) working households, (b) workless households, (c) single parents, (d) disabled people and (e) elderly people.

Esther McVey: The Government regularly produces analysis of the cumulative impact of all coalition changes, including welfare, on households across the income distribution. This information is produced by the Treasury and is published alongside every Budget and autumn statement, in the interests of transparency. The previous Government did not provide this type of analysis. The most recent update was published with the autumn statement on 5 December 2013, and can be found using the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263548/impact_on_households_ autumn_statement_2013.pdf
	This analysis estimates the effect of coalition measures from all fiscal events from he Budget in June 2010 to the autumn statement in 2013. It also includes changes hat were announced before the Budget in June 2010 that have been implemented by this Government.
	Current coalition policies are compared with what might have happened if the previous Government's policies had continued into the future without any further fiscal consolidation even though these policies were not affordable or sustainable.
	Distributional analysis is provided for the whole population on the basis of household income and household expenditure. However this is not disaggregated to the level of household characteristics such as disability status or economic status.

Winter Fuel Payments

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what mechanisms his Department uses to identify the number of winter fuel payment recipients who use off-grid energy;
	(2)  how many winter fuel payment recipients use off-grid energy.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available. There is no existing source of data on off-grid gas users at individual household level. However, in the context of broader work on fuel poverty, the Department—jointly with the Department for Energy and Climate Change—is in discussion with the energy supply industry to ascertain what data could become available, and at what level of detail, with a view to understanding the scope for improving the targeting of support for those reliant on fuel oil and other alternatives to mains gas.

Winter Fuel Payments

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of winter fuel payment there are in each parliamentary constituency in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/winter-fuel-payments-caseload-and-household-figures

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many voluntary sector organisations identified in the first Work programme stock take are not included in the most recent stock take.

Esther McVey: The latest stocktake (September 2013) shows that 364 subcontracts are held by voluntary sector organisations. This figure has been broadly consistent from the start of the Work programme although there have been changes in supply chain organisations due to performance management activities.
	The latest information, as at 31 September 2013, can be found through the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/organisations-that-supply-services-to-the-work-programme-providers
	The proportions in the private, voluntary and public sectors can be calculated from this data.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent assessment is of the level of innovation being achieved by Work Programme providers.

Esther McVey: As the programme matures many Work programme providers are showing signs of innovation, for example Working Links are testing a personal budget type approach with ESA claimants, giving them the freedom to purchase employment support which will meet their needs. We can also see clear variation in provider performance, demonstrating that the best and most innovative approaches can make a real difference.
	In addition, the independently chaired Work programme Building Best Practice Group has been set up to help organisations delivering the Work programme find the best ways to support the harder to help and to share knowledge of what works. The group will report back-to me in spring 2014.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in Work Programme performance reported in the December performance statistics.

Esther McVey: Work programme performance has improved since being launched in June 2011. Up until the end of September 2012, just under 55,000 had found lasting work. This has increased to 208,000 people by September 2013.
	Overall the proportion of Job Outcome payments attained at the 12-month stage has increased steadily for monthly intakes since the start of the programme.
	For example comparisons of cohorts of referrals that have achieved Job Outcomes within 12 months:
	8.4% of the first monthly intake—June 2011—achieved a Job Outcome by 12 months.
	This compares with 12.5%, 12.3% and 11.7% for the July, August and September 2012 monthly intakes respectively.

Work Programme

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what targets he has set in relation to people who leave prison and move onto the Work Programme;
	(2)  how the Work Programme has performed against its targets for those leaving prison since the programme's inception.

Esther McVey: Targets have not been set for those leaving prison and moving onto the Work programme.
	The Government is committed to helping prison leavers and Jobcentre Plus staff can now process benefit claims in prison thus streamlining the benefits process. This makes immediate referral to the Work programme possible on release from prison and ultimately gives the maximum help to prison leavers and reduces the temptation to re-offend.

EDUCATION

PISA Report

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the findings of the recent PISA report.

Elizabeth Truss: England's performance has stagnated while others which have radically reformed their education systems have seen impressive gains.
	Reform takes time. Improvement didn't happen overnight in Poland and Germany.
	We are putting in place the right mix of autonomy, accountability and high expectations that will move us from average to great.

PISA Report

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the findings of the recent PISA report.

Elizabeth Truss: England's performance stagnated in PISA 2012. In contrast, Germany and Poland did reform and have seen considerable improvement since 2000 and East Asian jurisdictions have also moved further ahead.
	We are learning from their successes and putting in place the right mix of reforms—increasing school freedom and accountability and putting more of a focus on core academic subjects.

PISA Report

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the findings of the recent PISA report.

Elizabeth Truss: England's performance stagnated in PISA 2012. In contrast, Germany and Poland did reform and have seen considerable improvement since 2000 and East Asian jurisdictions have also moved further ahead.
	We are learning from their successes and putting in place the right mix of reforms—increasing school freedom and accountability and putting more of a focus on core academic subjects.

Teachers' Pay and Conditions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress his Department has made on negotiations with teaching unions on teachers' pay and conditions and industrial action.

David Laws: The Secretary of State for Education has invited the NUT and the NASUWT to attend a programme of talks about the implementation of education policy, including in those areas covered by their trade disputes. He has invited all other organisations representing teachers as it is only fair that all members of the profession are represented. The talks will begin this month and I hope that NUT and NASUWT will attend. It is disappointing that they continue to threaten national strike action.

Royal College of Teaching Proposals

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of proposals for the establishment of a Royal College of Teaching.

David Laws: A successful professional body for teaching, established and owned by the teachers themselves, could play an important role in raising the standard and status of teaching. Key to the success of any such body would be its independence from government. We have been following with interest initiatives that have begun to take root in the education sector, including those under the aegis of the Prince's Teaching Institute, and we look forward to seeing their proposal when it is published in the new year.

Domestic Violence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effect of domestic violence on children's education.

Edward Timpson: We are taking steps to address the impact through far-reaching reforms to child protection systems and to social work education to improve safeguarding and child welfare. We also support cross-Government work, led by the Home Office, to tackle domestic violence.

Free Schools

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many free schools he expects to be open at the end of the present Parliament.

Michael Gove: There are 174 open free schools and another 116 in the pipeline. I therefore expect there will be almost 300 free schools open by the end of the present Parliament.

Free Schools

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many current headteachers or principals of free schools do not have a professional teaching qualification;
	(2)  how many headteachers or principals of free schools did not have a professional teaching qualification when the free school was established.

Edward Timpson: The Department holds information on whether teachers hold Qualified Teacher Status, but not separate data on head teachers only.
	No head teachers or principals in state-funded schools are required to hold Qualified Teacher Status, except for:
	1. Head teachers in local authority maintained schools, whose role involves teaching; and
	2. Head teachers or principals in state-funded special schools, whose role involves teaching.

Free Schools

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the free schools for 16 to 19 year olds that are operating in the 2013-14 academic year; how many (a) 16 and (b) 17 year olds have enrolled in each; and for how many students each school has been funded by the Education Funding Agency.

Edward Timpson: There are seven 16-19 free schools operating currently. Six of the seven free schools opened in September 2013 and therefore only have pupils in year 12. All these new free schools have been funded on a single year to take in year 12. The London Academy of Excellence opened in academic year 2012/13. A total of 1,210 planned pupils are funded at the seven 16-19 free schools for 2013/14. The details at institution level of funding, and the number of pupils funded and enrolled are shown in the following table. All open academies and free schools will have their budgets adjusted upwards and downwards within the terms of their funding agreements based upon the number of pupils recorded in their census. Where academies are funded on the basis of their estimate of pupil numbers in the coming year, an adjustment will be made, in accordance with their funding agreement, if the estimate is different from the numbers on the pupil census. This adjustment could be positive or negative and where it is negative the funding is recovered from the academy.
	
		
			    Autumn School Census 
			 Academy Name Funding (£) 16-19 Planned Pupils including Planned Places Year 12 (16-year-olds) Year 13 (17-year-olds) Year 14 (18-year-olds) 
			 Connell Sixth Form College 557,351 120 41 0 0 
			 Kimberley 16 -19 Stem College 936,124 210 162 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 London Academy of Excellence1 2,514,656 410 2— 2— 2— 
			 Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School 683,016 154 71 0 0 
			 St Mary Magdalene Academy: the Courtyard 110,915 15 3 0 0 
			 Stem Academy 916,596 151 146 0 0 
			 The Maltings Free College 886,892 150 32 85 17 
			 1 London Academy of Excellence records its pupil numbers using the post 16 Individual Learner Record. 2 Data not available.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 399W, on free schools, whether it is his policy to respond to a decision note from the Information Commissioner's Office on the final day of the statutory timescale set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Edward Timpson: It is the Secretary of State for Education’s policy to respond to decision notices by the deadlines set by the Information Commissioner.

Free Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 463W, on free schools, for what reasons he has no plans to publish records of monitoring visits by education advisers to free schools.

Edward Timpson: Monitoring visits by the Department's education advisers are designed to provide professional challenge and support for newly opened free schools. The NAO report on establishing free schools, which was published on 12 December, includes information on the monitoring reports, which can be found here:
	http://www.nao.org.uk/report/establishing-free-schools/
	Free schools are inspected by Ofsted within two years of opening, and it is publication of inspection reports that ensures public accountability for the performance of free schools.

Free Schools

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) all-through free schools have facilities to provide hot school meals.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is not held centrally. The Government is providing £150 million of capital funding to improve kitchens and dining facilities in schools, including free schools, ahead of the introduction of universal free school meals for pupils in reception, year l and year 2 from September 2014.

Targeted Basic Needs Funding

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the adequacy of targeted basic needs funding.

David Laws: The Targeted Basic Need programme will create more than 70,000 new school places by September 2015 in the local authority areas that need them most, at a cost of about £820 million. The capital allocations the Department has provided to local authorities to deliver the places were calculated using the Education Funding Agency's Contractors' Framework rates. They should be sufficient to procure schools using the latest standardised designs.

Academies

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the free schools and university technical colleges his Department is funding; how many children have been enrolled at each such institution; and for how many children each such institution is being funded.

Edward Timpson: There are 174 free schools and 17 university technical colleges open in the academic year 2013/14. A total of 29,073 planned pupils are funded at these institutions for 2013/14. Each institution's level of funding, number of pupils funded and number of pupils enrolled are provided in the following table.
	All open academies and free schools will have their budgets adjusted upwards and downwards within the terms of their funding agreements based upon the number of pupils recorded in their census.
	As the NAO said in their recent report, free schools become more popular the longer they are open.
	
		
			 Free schools and university technical colleges funding allocations academic year 2013/14 
			 Type Name Funded pupils Enrolment autumn 2013 (October school census)1 
			 Free School Aldborough E-ACT Free School 240 226 
			 Free School All Saints Junior School 75 72 
			 Free School ARK Atwood Primary Academy 180 173 
			 Free School ARK Conway Primary Academy 90 90 
			 Free School Batley Grammar School 711 701 
			 Free School Kings Science Academy 570 531 
			 Free School Bristol Free School 380 377 
			 Free School Canary Wharf College 160 154 
			 Free School Discovery New School 81 68 
			 Free School Eden Primary School 90 90 
		
	
	
		
			 Free School Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School 80 81 
			 Free School Krishna-Avanti Primary School 180 171 
			 Free School Langley Hall Primary Academy 676 666 
			 Free School Maharishi School 191 189 
			 Free School Moorlands Free School 351 371 
			 Free School Nishkam Primary School 297 294 
			 Free School Rainbow Primary 225 171 
			 Free School Sandbach School 1,269 1,277 
			 Free School St Luke’s Church of England School 45 44 
			 Free School Stour Valley Community School 465 463 
			 Free School The Free School Norwich 164 160 
			 Free School The Priors School 65 63 
			 Free School West London Free School 360 360 
			 Free School Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy 180 180 
			 Free School Al Madinah School 510 410 
			 Free School Alban City Free School 116 117 
			 Free School Atherton Community School 162 141 
			 Free School Barrow 1618 60 68 
			 Free School Becket Keys Church School 280 281 
			 Free School Bilingual Primary School for Brighton and Hove 134 137 
			 Free School CET Primary School (Tower Hamlets) 125 111 
			 Free School CET Primary School (Westminster) 112 84 
			 Free School Cobham Free School 115 115 
			 Free School Corby Technical School 135 141 
			 Free School Cramlington Village Primary School 65 56 
			 Free School Dixons Music Primary 90 87 
			 Free School Dixons Trinity Academy 224 224 
			 Free School Emmanuel Community School 56 51 
			 Free School Enfield Heights Academy 50 49 
			 Free School Europa School UK 225 222 
			 Free School Steiner Academy Frome 160 160 
			 Free School The Gateway Academy - Free School 112 99 
			 Free School Rimon Jewish Primary School 48 44 
		
	
	
		
			 Free School Grindon Hall Christian School 557 537 
			 Free School Hartsbrook E-ACT Free School 180 107 
			 Free School Harpenden Free School 115 93 
			 Free School Hatfield Community Free School 120 119 
			 Free School King's Leadership Academy Warrington 165 152 
			 Free School Kingfisher Hall Primary Academy 120 118 
			 Free School London Academy of Excellence 410 1- 
			 Free School Nishkam School Trust 305 256 
			 Free School Oakbank School 176 157 
			 Free School Reach Academy: Feltham 223 216 
			 Free School Sandymoor School 119 103 
			 Free School School 21 300 294 
			 Free School Southwark Free School 60 42 
			 Free School Avanti House School 400 280 
			 Free School St Michael's Catholic Secondary School 153 110 
			 Free School The Beccles Free School 200 195 
			 Free School Perry Beeches 2 Free School 341 284 
			 Free School The Greenwich Free School 200 198 
			 Free School The Hawthorne’s Free School 382 358 
			 Free School The Rural Enterprise Academy 101 85 
			 Free School The Saxmundham Free School 195 171 
			 Free School The Tiger School 137 141 
			 Free School Wapping High School 126 114 
			 Free School Bedford Free School 400 363 
			 Free School ARK Bolingbroke Academy 242 243 
			 Free School IES Breckland Free School 352 313 
			 Free School Harris Primary Free School Peckham 120 118 
			 Free School Tauheedul 253 253 
			 Free School City of Peterborough Academy Special School 58 57 
			 Free School Lighthouse School 20 22 
			 Free School Rosewood Free School 68 37 
			 Free School Derby Pride Academy 50 1- 
			 Free School EBN East Birmingham Network Free School 75 1- 
		
	
	
		
			 Free School Everton in the Community Free School Trust 178 1- 
			 Free School Stone Soup Learns 40 1- 
			 Free School City Gateway (Hybrid Academy) 520 1- 
			 Free School St Mary's CE Primary School, Dilwyn 30 29 
			 Free School Harmonize Academy 48 1- 
			 Free School Abacus Primary School 30 26 
			 Free School Abbey View (CCT Learning) 38 1- 
			 Free School Alma Primary 30 30 
			 Free School Anand Primary School 30 20 
			 Free School Ark John Keats Academy 30 37 
			 Free School Boston Pioneers Free School Academy 60 50 
			 Free School Bradford Girls' Grammar School 772 765 
			 Free School Cambourne Village College 143 138 
			 Free School Cathedral Primary School 30 30 
			 Free School Chichester Free School 210 209 
			 Free School Churchill Special Free School 18 12 
			 Free School City of Peterborough Academy 62 83 
			 Free School Collective Spirit 60 42 
			 Free School Compass School 53 40 
			 Free School Connell Sixth Form College 120 41 
			 Free School ContinU Plus Academy 70 1- 
			 Free School East London Science School 120 84 
			 Free School Gildredge House 176 173 
			 Free School Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham Temple Grove Free School 61 60 
			 Free School Hackney New School 100 95 
			 Free School Hadlow Rural Community School 80 79 
			 Free School Harris Aspire Academy 45 1- 
			 Free School Heron Hall Academy 77 79 
			 Free School Hewens Primary School 38 66 
			 Free School Heyford Park Free School 78 77 
			 Free School Hope Community School 30 29 
			 Free School Judith Kerr Primary School 90 83 
			 Free School Khalsa Science Academy 25 17 
			 Free School Khalsa Secondary Acdemy 100 79 
		
	
	
		
			 Free School Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College 210 162 
			 Free School King's School Hove 100 61 
			 Free School Langdale Free School 98 93 
			 Free School Leeds Jewish Free School 9 8 
			 Free School Longsight Community Primary 60 56 
			 Free School Marchbank Free School 18 16 
			 Free School Marine Academy Primary (Map2) 29 29 
			 Free School Mosaic Jewish Primary School 30 23 
			 Free School Nanaksar Primary School 120 107 
			 Free School New Islington Free School 85 96 
			 Free School Nishkam School West London 100 87 
			 Free School Oasis Academy South Bank 120 120 
			 Free School One In A Million Free School 60 60 
			 Free School Parkfield School 291 275 
			 Free School Peaslake Free School 33 30 
			 Free School Perry Beeches III 138 145 
			 Free School Churchill Gardens 30 26 
			 Free School Plymouth School of Creative Arts 120 104 
			 Free School Reach School 52 1- 
			 Free School River Bank Primary School 60 60 
			 Free School Riverside School 240 239 
			 Free School Robert Owen Vocational School 48 28 
			 Free School Route 39 Academy 60 62 
			 Free School Rutherford House School 51 55 
			 Free School Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School 154 71 
			 Free School Sir Thomas Fremantle School 100 101 
			 Free School Southend YMCA Community School 31 1- 
			 Free School Sparkwell All Saints Primary School 24 21 
			 Free School St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School 100 70 
			 Free School St Anthony's School 99 101 
			 Free School St Georges Academy (Titan Partnership) 90 1- 
			 Free School St Martin's Academy Chester 25 25 
			 Free School St Mary Magdalene Academy: the Courtyard 15 14 
			 Free School St Mary's Hampton Church of England School 30 30 
		
	
	
		
			 Free School Steiner Academy Exeter 130 103 
			 Free School Stem Academy 151 146 
			 Free School Stockport Technical School 87 77 
			 Free School The Academy of Central Bedfordshire 95 1- 
			 Free School The Acorn Free School 28 1- 
			 Free School The Archer Academy 150 148 
			 Free School The Boulevard Academy 37 35 
			 Free School The Durham Free School 31 30 
			 Free School The Heights Free School 90 1- 
			 Free School The Jubilee Academy 100 1- 
			 Free School The Maltings Free College 150 134 
			 Free School The Nas Thames Valley School 22 17 
			 Free School The Olive School Blackburn 240 241 
			 Free School The Olive School Hackney 180 180 
			 Free School The Olive Tree Primary School Bolton 72 78 
			 Free School The Reach Free School 45 42 
			 Free School The St Marylebone Church of England Bridge School 12 12 
			 Free School The Swanage School 100 109 
			 Free School The Wells Free School 72 69 
			 Free School Thetford Alternative Provision Free School 20 1- 
			 Free School Thomson House School 48 48 
			 Free School Tooting Primary School 60 61 
			 Free School Trinity School (Sevenoaks Christian School) 91 91 
			 Free School Tyndale Community School 26 34 
			 Free School University Cathedral Free School 60 60 
			 Free School West London Free School Primary 60 60 
			 Free School West Newcastle Academy 28 28 
			 Free School Westside Free School 23 1- 
			 Free School William Perkin Church of England High School 180 181 
		
	
	
		
			 Free School Wye Free School 90 89 
			 University Technical College JCB Academy 478 440 
			 University Technical College Black Country UTC 178 151 
			 University Technical College Aston UTC 368 301 
			 University Technical College Hackney UTC 229 109 
			 University Technical College Central Bedfordshire UTC 160 101 
			 University Technical College Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy 212 186 
			 University Technical College Buckinghamshire UTC 125 89 
			 University Technical College Daventry UTC 110 96 
			 University Technical College Liverpool Life Sciences UTC 200 182 
			 University Technical College Sheffield UTC 280 214 
			 University Technical College Silverstone UTC 200 161 
			 University Technical College The Elstree UTC 240 221 
			 University Technical College University Technical College, Royal Borough of Greenwich 300 290 
			 University Technical College UTC Plymouth 161 150 
			 University Technical College UTC Reading 120 140 
			 University Technical College Visions Learning Trust UTC 100 76 
			 University Technical College Wigan UTC 85 59 
			 1 There are 19 institutions that have no data in the autumn 2013 schools census return. These are mainly institutions with special or alternative provision. Source: Education Funding Agency 19 December 2013

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2013, Official Report, columns 260-61W, on academies, how payment is calculated for academy brokers in relation to visits on which his Department does not hold data.

Edward Timpson: Brokers are procured through open competition. The Department’s procurement method ensures best value for money through quality service from brokers. Brokers are paid on a daily rate basis, including travel and expenses.

Academies: Sponsorship

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  on what date the BAU Foundation Trust was approved as a suitable sponsor for academies; and whether that approval is still in force;
	(2)  on what date the Mentora Academies Trust was approved as a suitable sponsor for academies; and whether that approval is still in force.

Edward Timpson: BAU Foundation was approved as an academy sponsor on 22 August 2013. It subsequently established Mentora Academies Trust, which would have overseen any academies sponsored by BAU.
	Following the recent resignation of a number of trustees, we have informed BAU Foundation that the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), is minded to withdraw their status as an approved academy sponsor.

Adoption

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children adopted over the age of five whose adoption breaks down before adulthood.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of children adopted from care whose adoption breaks down is not currently available. However, the Department for Education has commissioned research that will enable us to quantify the incidence of adoption breakdown for children who were legally adopted between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2011, including by age at the time of placement. The results will be published in spring 2014.
	In addition, the Department will collect information on children re-entering care where the child has previously been adopted or left care through a special guardianship or residence order for the first time in spring 2014. The information is expected to be available in autumn 2014.

Adoption

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make post-adoption support a requirement on adoption agencies across the UK.

Edward Timpson: The Government considers that a new duty on local authorities is not necessary because the new provisions and investment, which were listed in a previous question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe), and answered on 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 587W, will deliver real improvements for adoptive families. The Department understands that such a duty on local authorities could seem an attractive option. However, we believe a duty could also incentivise perverse behaviour; for example, local authorities might be more likely to under-assess support needs if they had to then find the funding to meet these needs. Without introducing extra bureaucracy, this would make the experience for adoptive families worse, not better.
	On 11 September 2013 we announced that we would be investing £19.3 million in the creation of an Adoption Support Fund which avoids these perverse incentives. By adding significant extra money into the system, the Fund will help to improve access to, and the provision of, adoption support services. It will enable local authorities to assess properly and consistently in the knowledge that there is enough money available to pay for what the child needs, including more expensive, proven packages of support. In addition, we expect that the Fund will help to stimulate and grow the market for adoption support providers by acting as a commissioner of services. It will also help to incentivise investment by local authorities and from charitable and philanthropic organisations/individuals. These benefits would not be realised through a duty to provide.

Al-Madinah School

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 729W, on Al-Madinah school, if he will now publish the qualifications held by each member of the teaching staff at the Al-Madinah free school at the beginning of the school term.

Edward Timpson: It would be inappropriate to publish any staffing details at this time.
	The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has decided that the needs of the pupils at Al-Madinah school would be best served by bringing in more experienced management, with the skills and capability required to deliver the improvements needed at the school. To that end, the Secretary of State has asked Barry Day, chief executive of the Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust, to start work with the trust.

Apple

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what electronic or paper records were taken at the meeting between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families and representatives from Apple Inc at their meeting in February 2013; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the official record.

Edward Timpson: Following the meeting I had with representatives from Apple on 12 February 2013, I wrote to them to record the points of discussion.

Arts: Foundation Courses

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions Ministers in his Department had with their Ministerial colleagues at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport before making changes to the level of arts foundation diploma resources.

Matthew Hancock: The announcement on 10 December regarding funding for the academic year 2014/15 for 16 to 19-year-olds did not specifically affect the funding of the arts foundation diploma, but rather affects all those in the third year of post-16 education.

Arts: Foundation Courses

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of (a) the cost of teaching an arts foundation diploma and (b) how many hours of teaching are needed on an arts foundation diploma course.

Matthew Hancock: The Department does not hold estimates of the cost of teaching particular qualifications, because post-16 education is now funded per student rather than per qualification.
	In 2013/14, post-16 study programmes are funded at a base rate of £4,000 per year. Funding for institutions which currently receive more is protected until 2016/17. Foundation Art and Design Diplomas also receive a 20% uplift if the Diploma is the core aim of the study programme.
	The examination awarding bodies recommended 645 guided learning hours for these courses.

Arts: Foundation Courses

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students obtained an arts foundation diploma in the years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.

Matthew Hancock: The requested information has been provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of students1,2 attaining a level 3 foundation diploma in arts3, year: 2010/11 to 2012/13, coverage: England 
			 Year4 Number of students attaining a foundation diploma in arts 
			 2010/11 338 
			 2011/12 733 
			 2012/13 560 
			 1 Covers students aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August. 2 Includes students at the end of advanced level study who were entered for at least one substantial Level 3 qualification. 3 Only includes Pearson Level 3 BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (QCF), ABC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art Design and Media and UAL Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design—Foundation Studies (QCF). 4 Figures for 2012/13 are provisional, all other figures are final. Source: Key Stage 5 attainment data

Charities: Education

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to educate young people about charity in schools.

Elizabeth Truss: We have revised the citizenship programmes of study to direct teaching towards the core knowledge of citizenship at key stages 3 and 4, and to give schools more scope to decide how to teach citizenship. Teaching should develop pupils' understanding of democracy, government and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Among other things, pupils should be taught about the roles played by public institutions and voluntary groups in society, and the ways in which citizens work together to improve their communities, including opportunities to participate in school-based activities.
	In addition, schools may include teaching within personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), a non-statutory subject in a school's curriculum. PSHE equips children with the knowledge and skills to make safe and informed decisions. Teachers are well-placed to judge which topics to cover, tailored to the needs of their pupils and in the context of the school's overall programme.

Children: Day Care

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to encourage new childcare providers to enter the commercial market.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is putting in place a number of measures to support growth in child care provision; These include:
	1. Simplifying the regulatory framework and planning rules so nurseries can expand more easily and making it automatic for good nurseries to offer Government-funded early education places;
	2. Improving the funding system to increase consistency across local authorities and maximise the funding that reaches the frontline;
	3. Enabling the creation of childminder agencies. Through childminder agencies we aim to make it simpler for people to enter childminding. Childminder agencies will be able to share administration and other costs; help childminders with training and resources; and ensure parents can find flexible, quality, home-based care;
	4. Making it easier for schools to extend their nursery provision to two-year-olds, and deliver 8am to 6pm child care for both nursery age and older children; and encouraging schools to work with private and voluntary child care providers to achieve this;
	5. Developing a new tax-free child care scheme to expand support for affordable child care to 2.5 million families to stimulate demand; and
	6. Launching the London Childcare Fund; £8 million of additional funding to London local authorities to help them get better value from the £1 billion Government spends and expand provision for two-, three- and four-year-olds.
	The Government will continue to work with providers and provider organisations to understand, and then reduce, the barriers to new providers entering the market and to existing nurseries expanding.

Children: Day Care

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures his Department is taking to encourage schools to work with private and voluntary providers to offer after-school and holiday child care.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is making it easier for schools and private, voluntary and independent providers to provide out-of-hours and holiday care; and for them to do it in partnership where they choose to. This sort of care can: improve pupil outcomes, gain recognition from Ofsted, meet parental needs, making a school attractive to parents and make the school a community resource.
	Examples of the steps the Government is taking to make it easier include:
	1. Reducing costs to providers by revising the regulatory framework so that a more proportionate set of requirements are in place, without compromising the safety of children. This includes allowing child care providers to work in multiple locations with only one registration with Ofsted and aligning staff qualifications requirements with those in place during the school day;
	2. Working through experienced voluntary and community sector organisations to
	identify and remove barriers to 8am to 6pm care; and
	3. Helping schools to learn from each other about what works, by sharing case studies of successful out-of-hours and holiday care in schools, including effective business models that deliver financially sustainable provision.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education to what budget the £8 million funding for improving access to childcare places for families in London will fall; and what estimate he has made of the number of private sector and voluntary providers who will take part in the match-funding scheme.

Elizabeth Truss: The £8 million of additional funding for London councils, which I announced on 12 December, will be paid to local authorities through the Dedicated Schools Grant.
	I have encouraged local authorities to work with the Greater London Authority to pursue a range of innovative activities to get better use of the £1 billion budget currently spent on London child care. This can be used to expand the provision for two-, three- and four-year olds, including through support for school nurseries to offer full-time education, and child care from 8am to 6pm, and match funding capital, which is expensive for private, voluntary and independent providers.

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools currently provide 8am-6pm childcare.

Elizabeth Truss: This information is not held in the format requested.
	The Department for Education's Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey collects information on the number of child care providers in England, including after school clubs. In 2011, there were 10,000 after school clubs, of which 71% were offering before school activities or child care for school aged children in term time. This compares to 9,500 after school clubs in 2010, of which 67% were offering before-school activities or child care for school aged children in term time.

Children: Internet

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department gives to schools to ensure children use school computers to access the internet safely.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government will shortly be issuing updated statutory guidance to replace 'Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education', which will remind schools of their responsibility to ensure they have a culture of safety and that pupils are safe. This includes using opportunities in the curriculum and more widely to teach children how to stay safe.
	As part of the reforms to the national curriculum, the Department for Education is strengthening the requirements to teach e-safety via the new computing programmes of study. Computing is replacing ICT as a core national curriculum subject and will be mandatory at all key stages from September 2014. This will see e-safety, for the first time, being taught to primary school pupils-from age 5 to 11 in key stages 1 and 2-rather than leaving this until secondary school.
	Teachers are free to teach the curriculum as they see fit, drawing on resources as appropriate. Relevant resources include ‘Think U Know’ which is produced by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (now part of the National Crime Agency), which provides training and education resources for practitioners to use with children and young people to increase their understanding of online safety. Also, the UK's Safer Internet Centre hotline, the Professional Online Safety Helpline, provides information to child care professionals on internet safety.

Children: Protection

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many notifications of significant incidents were provided to Ofsted for each month of 2012 and 2013 that has been quality assured in full; what the date of each such incident was; whether a serious case review was performed of each such incident; what the age range of the child concerned in each such incident was; what the local authority was; whether the child was a child in care; and on what date Ofsted was notified of whether or not a serious case review was to be performed for each such incident;
	(2)  how many notifications of significant incidents were provided to Ofsted in November 2013; what the date of each such incident was; whether a serious case review was performed of each such incident; what the age range of the child concerned in each such incident was; what the local authority was; whether the child was a child in care; and on what date Ofsted was notified of whether or not a serious case review was to be performed for each such incident;
	(3)  how many notifications of significant incidents were provided to Ofsted in October 2013; what the date of each such incident was; whether a serious case review was performed of each such incident; what the age range of the child concerned in each such incident was; what the local authority was; whether the child was a child in care; and on what date Ofsted was notified of whether or not a serious case review was to be performed for each such incident;
	(4)  how many notifications of significant incidents were provided to Ofsted in September 2013; what the date of each such incident was; whether a serious case review was performed of each such incident; what the age range of the child concerned in each such incident was; what the local authority was; whether the child was a child in care; and on what date Ofsted was notified of whether or not a serious case review was to be performed for each such incident;
	(5)  how many notifications of significant incidents were provided to Ofsted in August 2013; what the date of each such incident was; whether a serious case review was performed of each such incident; what the age range of the child concerned in each such incident was; what the local authority was; whether the child was a child in care; and on what date Ofsted was notified of whether or not a serious case review was to be performed for each such incident.

Edward Timpson: These questions are matters for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, will write to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many serious case reviews have been published since the Serious Case Review Panel was established; and if he will list them.

Edward Timpson: It is for Local Safeguarding Children Boards to determine when to publish Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013’ states that Local Safeguarding Children Boards should send copies of all SCR reports to the national panel of independent experts at least one week before publication.
	The national panel has been sent copies of 27 completed SCR reports, which were published between 1 July and 20 December 2013. The reports are listed in the following table:
	
		
			 SCRs sent to national panel of independent experts on SCRs July to December 2013 LSCB 
			  Case reference Date published 
			 Bath and North East Somerset David A 5 September 
			 Birmingham Case 24 27 August 
			 Birmingham Case 25—Keanu Williams 3 October 
			 Bolton Child 1 27 September 
			 Bradford Hamzah Khan 12 November 
			 Coventry Daniel Pelka 17 September 
			 Croydon Child X 30 September 
			 Derbyshire BDS 12 13 December 
			 East Sussex Child G 16 December 
			 Hampshire Child R and Child S 1 October 
			 Haringey Child T 10 October 
			 Isle of Wight Baby E 5 November (key findings and recommendations) 
			 Isle of Wight Baby T 5 November 
			 Kingston Tom and Vic 2 October 
			 Lancashire Child K 11 November 
			 Manchester Child W 30 September 
			 Portsmouth Child D 19 September 
			 Rochdale Baby F 27November 
			 Rochdale Young People 1, 2, 3,4, 5 and 6 20 December 
			 Rochdale Young Person 7 20 December 
			 Southampton Child G 29 October (executive summary) 
			 Surrey Child J and Child K 24 September (executive summary) 
			 Surrey Child U and Child V 17 September 
			 Tameside Child F 31 October 
			 Wakefield Emma 10 December 
			 Wiltshire Child H 4 November 
			 Wolverhampton Child A 20 December

Christmas

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on (a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas card postage in each year from 2005 to 2012.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not allocate resources for this type of expenditure. If members of staff wish to send Christmas cards they have to purchase them and pay for the postage themselves.

Christmas

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on Christmas (a) trees, (b) decorations, (c) parties and (d) drinks in each year from 2005 to 2012.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not allocate resources for this type of expenditure. Members of staff wishing to decorate their areas of work must do so at their own expense.
	The Department has held no centrally organised or funded Christmas parties for staff. Individual divisions or teams will have organised their own events, but these would have been funded by contributions from the staff themselves.

Christmas

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much ministerial private offices in his Department spent on (a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas card postage in each year from 2005 to 2012.

Elizabeth Truss: Records of expenditure on Christmas cards, including postage, are held centrally for the year 2007 onwards. I refer the hon. Member to my response of 14 February 2013, Official report, column 795W on Christmas cards.

Christmas

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much ministerial private offices in his Department spent on (a) Christmas trees, (b) Christmas decorations (c) Christmas parties and (d) Christmas drinks in each year from 2005 to 2012.

Elizabeth Truss: Ministerial private offices spent no money on Christmas trees or decorations in 2012. Records on expenditure prior to this date are not held centrally; however, it is understood that ministerial private offices purchase any Christmas decorations from personal funds. Records are not held centrally for expenditure on Christmas events for the years 2005 to 2012.

Directors

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 589W, how many hours each non-executive member of his Department's board spent in the Department in the last 12 months.

Elizabeth Truss: This information is not collected by the Department.

Directors

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2013, Official Report, columns 588-89W, on directors, what roles are played in his Department's formal government structures by each non-executive board member.

Elizabeth Truss: Non-executive board members play a key role across Government, offering advice and challenge on the management of Departments. They support and challenge the executive on a range of areas, including operational and delivery implications of departmental policy proposals.
	The formal governance structure of the Department for Education consists of a departmental board and three sub-committees. All of the Department's non-executive board members sit on the departmental board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). Paul Marshall chairs the Audit and Risk Committee and is the only one of our non-executives who attends. Theodore Agnew chairs the Performance Committee. All non-executives are members of this committee and they attend depending on their availability. The Permanent Secretary chairs the Management Committee, to which there is a standing invitation for all non-executives.

Directors

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 589W, on directors, what support and facilities his Department provides to each non-executive board member.

Elizabeth Truss: The level of support and range of facilities provided to the Department for Education's non-executive board members varies over time and depends on each of the non-executive's roles. The Department's Board Secretariat provides administrative support to all non-executives, and all have access to meeting rooms, office equipment and office space as and when required. In addition, the Academies Group provides additional office support to Theodore Agnew for his role on academies.

Discovery New School

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) projected and (b) actual costs of establishing the Discovery New School, Crawley, West Sussex were.

Edward Timpson: The first free schools were funded for pre-opening by negotiation and their subsequent revenue funding has been based on their estimated pupil numbers.
	Pre-opening and post-opening revenue expenditure can be found on our website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/b00222175/open/capital-expenditure
	The capital budget for Discovery New School can also be viewed online at:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xlsx/f/free%20schools%20revenue%20expenditure_002.xlsx

Discovery New School

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what continuing liabilities his Department has in respect of the property occupied by the Discovery New School, Crawley after the school closes; and what plans it has for future use of the premises.

Edward Timpson: Officials at the Department for Education are in discussion with the Discovery New School Academy Trust regarding the transfer of the lease and capital assets funded by the Department.
	Our aim is that the Department's investment should continue to support education in the area.

Discovery New School

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements he has put in place for the continuing education of pupils at the Discovery free school following its closure.

Edward Timpson: Officials at the Department for Education are working closely with the Chair of Governors of Discovery New School and West Sussex county council (WSCC) to ensure that pupils can move to other local schools with as little disruption as possible. WSCC is committed to working with the Department for Education to ensure that there are suitable places ready in good local schools.
	WSCC contacted the school and parents of pupils on the day of the announcement; visited the school to offer advice to parents on 16 December; and wrote to update parents and offer further advice on securing a new school place for their children on 19 December. The Department will continue to liaise with WSCC and offer support throughout the process.

Dyslexia

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what objectives he has set for the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust to ensure schools and local authorities are provided with the best possible guidance over the next two years.

Edward Timpson: The Dyslexia SpLD Trust is contracted to provide high quality information to parents, schools and local authorities. The Trust provides online information, including a database of effective interventions for dyslexia and literacy difficulties, and a professional development framework that allows teachers to assess their current skills and identify further training materials. Specific objectives include: increasing the number of users of the website by 20% by March 2015; increasing the number of registered users of their Professional Development Framework to 4,000 by March 2015; providing information packs to more than 50 Initial Teacher Training providers by March 2015; and disseminating information on identification, screening and signposting for dyslexia and literacy difficulties to more than 12,000 individuals by March 2015.
	Full details of the contract between the Department for Education and the British Dyslexia Association which hosts the Dyslexia SpLD Trust, are available on the Government Contracts Finder website at:
	www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk

Early Intervention Grant

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what amount of funding from the early intervention grant his Department has clawed back for projects initiated by his Department; and to what uses that funding has been put.

Edward Timpson: The Department has not clawed back any money from the early intervention grant. When the early intervention grant was transferred into the Business Rates Retention system (from the 2013-14 financial year), £150 million was retained centrally by the Department in 2013-14 and 2014-15. In 2013-14, this money has been allocated to local authorities via the adoption reform grant. In 2014-15, £70 million is to be allocated to local authorities via a new special educational needs reform grant, and £50 million via the continuation of the adoption reform grant. Both of these grants are unringfenced. We will be giving further details shortly on how the remaining £30 million will be used to support children's services.

Early Intervention Grant

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what change there was in the level of early intervention grant funding to each local authority (a) by amount, (b) by percentage and (c) per capita between 2010-11 and 2013-14;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the likely change in the level of early intervention grant funding to each local authority by (a) amount and (b) percentage between 2011-12 and 2014-15.

Elizabeth Truss: The information requested is set out in the table.
	The early intervention grant (EIG) was an unhypothecated grant formed in 2011-12 from several ring-fenced intervention grants. In May 2012, it was announced that from 2013-14 the EIG would become part of the Business Rate Retention Scheme. At the same time, it was decided that funding for early learning for two-year-olds, which had previously formed part of the EIG, would be included in the dedicated schools grant. Department for Education also retained responsibility for distributing the early intervention grant topslice.
	As the table shows, overall funding for early intervention through these three funding streams is increasing from £2.2 billion in 2011-12 to £2.5 billion in 2014-15. The table excludes the per capita changes which the Department does not collect.
	
		
			 Early intervention funding, 2011-12 to 2014-15 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 England 2,235,356,045 2,370,063,177 2,383,918,190 2,451,401,979 
			      
			 City of London 1,113,516 1,128,482 917,390 842,025 
			 Camden 13,044,175 13,570,123 13,423,222 12,882,839 
			 Greenwich 16,708,174 17,388,510 18,371,904 18,351,007 
			 Hackney 20,178,778 20,963,689 20,587,898 21,961,051 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,544,395 9,882,363 10,509,437 9,567,469 
			 Islington 14,217,355 14,634,558 15,252,554 13,975,537 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6,788,336 7,397,793 7,315,011 6,793,576 
			 Lambeth 19,765,060 20,552,013 20,965,423 20,461,835 
			 Lewisham 17,963,927 18,618,030 19,494,042 19,903,032 
			 Southwark 19,657,339 20,479,376 21,990,039 20,753,568 
			 Tower Hamlets 20,912,569 21,300,490 22,422,848 21,945,146 
			 Wandsworth 12,967,315 14,190,779 15,747,960 14,959,362 
			 Westminster 10,833,359 11,249,741 11,419,855 10,580,675 
			 Barking and Dagenham 13,391,374 13,938,742 15,313,348 15,817,343 
			 Barnet 13,251,100 14,516,138 15,849,983 16,674,115 
			 Bexley 8,903,874 9,669,523 10,042,087 10,576,238 
			 Brent 14,268,641 15,124,527 17,259,692 18,496,447 
			 Bromley 11,021,136 12,022,033 12,416,789 12,542,992 
			 Croydon 15,887,259 17,219,500 18,880,002 19,761,632 
			 Ealing 15,563,572 16,940,776 18,289,345 18,946,499 
			 Enfield 14,555,803 15,847,125 18,186,010 19,511,855 
			 Haringey 15,862,806 16,454,946 16,164,202 16,510,731 
			 Harrow 7,816,195 8,550,480 9,158,426 9,926,117 
			 Havering 8,239,102 8,944,594 9,261,567 9,940,053 
			 Hillingdon 10,926,509 11,943,410 13,045,451 13,635,869 
			 Hounslow 11,603,732 12,637,348 13,631,805 13,976,738 
			 Kingston upon Thames 5,122,259 5,611,295 5,799,873 5,800,621 
			 Merton 7,674,994 8,392,071 8,934,743 9,192,466 
			 Newham 22,545,594 23,409,004 22,873,618 24,307,405 
		
	
	
		
			 Redbridge 10,051,920 11,038,484 12,350,929 12,877,941 
			 Richmond upon Thames 6,011,645 6,571,918 6,655,162 6,062,339 
			 Sutton 8,104,355 8,640,179 8,827,233 8,701,739 
			 Waltham Forest 14,534,319 15,122,948 16,218,408 17,127,676 
			 Birmingham 62,467,771 64,989,038 67,595,608 72,416,808 
			 Coventry 15,048,080 15,683,507 16,558,701 17,388,814 
			 Dudley 12,684,861 13,182,644 13,116,409 13,830,468 
			 Sandwell 18,187,158 18,885,958 18,899,897 20,561,422 
			 Solihull 8,836,833 9,143,845 8,495,007 8,766,371 
			 Walsall 14,861,083 15,401,893 15,378,209 16,549,765 
			 Wolverhampton 13,678,009 13,765,227 14,353,039 15,241,970 
			 Knowsley 11,132,437 11,461,381 10,616,041 10,970,307 
			 Liverpool 27,205,380 28,113,355 27,009,098 28,745,012 
			 St. Helens 10,056,117 10,367,679 9,926,572 9,921,120 
			 Sefton 11,412,792 11,808,084 11,086,473 11,882,032 
			 Wirral 15,178,082 15,719,560 15,005,586 15,799,650 
			 Bolton 14,921,186 15,494,247 15,477,769 16,362,665 
			 Bury 8,048,113 8,382,457 8,320,782 8,953,626 
			 Manchester 30,229,998 31,291,802 32,911,568 34,240,944 
			 Oldham 14,484,238 15,124,043 14,342,134 15,520,784 
			 Rochdale 13,035,342 13,514,719 13,119,477 13,890,872 
			 Salford 13,176,244 13,667,461 13,777,300 14,511,569 
			 Stockport 10,720,408 11,286,464 10,673,561 11,131,089 
			 Tameside 11,769,846 12,204,765 12,076,828 12,560,476 
			 Trafford 8,737,063 9,297,475 8,986,822 9,121,293 
			 Wigan 14,005,819 14,559,701 14,377,349 14,727,684 
			 Barnsley 11,448,545 11,861,119 11,719,908 12,233,270 
			 Doncaster 15,061,210 15,651,703 15,532,381 16,486,351 
			 Rotherham 12,821,583 12,883,832 12,589,066 13,012,487 
			 Sheffield 24,254,797 25,210,975 24,711,763 26,316,877 
			 Bradford 29,699,535 31,100,331 30,885,755 34,388,240 
			 Calderdale 10,345,488 10,750,790 10,239,837 10,779,613 
			 Kirklees 20,579,245 21,414,860 20,805,275 22,064,002 
			 Leeds 30,900,710 32,746,826 34,091,621 34,737,535 
			 Wakefield 14,691,836 15,247,068 14,796,142 15,569,583 
			 Gateshead 10,196,723 10,524,119 9,938,973 10,133,409 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 14,457,213 14,973,867 14,897,479 14,895,135 
			 North Tyneside 8,740,930 9,060,010 8,843,408 8,781,897 
			 South Tyneside 9,583,282 9,871,386 9,327,720 9,029,139 
			 Sunderland 16,110,974 16,278,077 15,583,134 15,672,542 
			 Isles of Scilly 667,223 661,818 478,047 485,344 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 5,833,658 6,309,946 5,841,372 5,882,521 
			 Bristol, City of 18,968,389 19,787,003 20,915,336 20,900,913 
			 North Somerset 6,813,721 7,439,911 7,542,580 7,474,012 
			 South Gloucestershire 8,093,897 8,842,520 8,864,013 8,889,646 
			 Hartlepool 7,143,830 7,192,058 6,769,471 6,846,885 
			 Middlesbrough 10,364,496 10,694,560 10,621,510 10,787,711 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 8,653,664 8,906,284 8,230,789 8,395,718 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 9,408,199 9,764,059 9,710,340 9,841,129 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 15,312,284 15,275,990 15,904,955 16,235,949 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 10,256,696 11,205,474 10,921,224 11,048,379 
			 North East Lincolnshire 9,503,275 9,804,610 9,182,521 9,870,061 
		
	
	
		
			 North Lincolnshire 7,218,120 7,601,423 7,531,087 7,723,567 
			 North Yorkshire 18,815,607 20,520,608 19,550,242 19,959,804 
			 York 6,421,188 6,737,769 6,522,492 6,439,080 
			 Luton 11,161,277 11,920,198 12,381,101 13,256,482 
			 Bedford Borough 6,473,404 7,001,795 7,024,483 7,306,793 
			 Central Bedfordshire 8,975,588 9,778,998 9,591,414 9,713,359 
			 Buckinghamshire 16,183,721 17,708,960 17,110,719 17,618,474 
			 Milton Keynes 10,218,559 11,167,739 12,025,117 12,644,812 
			 Derbyshire 27,701,026 29,714,669 29,087,053 29,318,900 
			 Derby 11,817,724 12,292,736 12,653,532 13,390,333 
			 Dorset 11,360,975 12,395,569 12,194,040 12,459,466 
			 Poole 4,775,650 5,157,176 5,146,080 5,361,231 
			 Bournemouth 6,809,995 7,037,222 7,018,295 7,338,651 
			 Durham 23,869,017 24,818,801 23,978,696 24,650,575 
			 Darlington 5,581,300 5,775,450 5,439,089 5,663,100 
			 East Sussex 18,205,698 19,332,053 18,999,149 19,713,855 
			 Brighton and Hove 10,729,263 11,138,310 10,827,636 10,515,799 
			 Hampshire 38,356,921 42,019,609 42,599,823 42,086,084 
			 Portsmouth 9,542,303 9,892,199 10,124,075 10,218,200 
			 Southampton 10,601,041 10,985,071 11,363,007 11,927,101 
			 Leicestershire 18,776,841 20,265,106 19,803,854 20,229,262 
			 Leicester 18,606,327 19,375,969 19,021,220 21,085,327 
			 Rutland 1,812,407 1,866,429 1,592,684 1,641,246 
			 Staffordshire 27,535,957 29,985,681 30,026,800 30,681,815 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 14,273,725 14,403,886 14,678,349 15,560,753 
			 Wiltshire 14,706,372 16,103,503 15,827,351 15,727,406 
			 Swindon 8,015,937 8,640,485 8,887,378 8,970,139 
			 Bracknell Forest 4,323,654 4,700,843 4,685,130 4,435,767 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 4,901,854 5,327,921 5,167,256 4,943,077 
			 West Berkshire 5,475,745 5,989,342 5,907,323 5,766,611 
			 Reading 7,053,405 7,453,932 8,313,571 8,193,716 
			 Slough 7,193,177 7,829,070 8,365,472 8,975,171 
			 Wokingham 4,863,657 5,315,278 5,037,016 4,754,519 
			 Cambridgeshire 19,308,821 21,139,801 21,261,019 21,150,357 
			 Peterborough 9,941,908 10,320,146 10,754,677 11,793,419 
			 Halton 8,920,678 9,198,528 8,826,391 8,486,222 
			 Warrington 8,391,606 8,693,399 8,181,959 8,254,379 
			 Devon 23,169,511 25,365,529 24,836,731 25,494,251 
			 Plymouth 11,595,013 12,028,266 12,010,552 12,124,223 
			 Torbay 6,077,108 6,267,264 5,981,501 6,320,654 
			 Essex 44,903,562 49,072,559 50,020,975 51,036,372 
			 Southend-on-Sea 7,787,113 8,063,048 7,980,712 8,250,291 
			 Thurrock 7,437,663 8,066,336 8,089,428 8,719,351 
			 Herefordshire 6,543,481 7,111,083 6,835,664 6,979,416 
			 Worcestershire 18,928,805 20,587,805 20,372,476 20,836,480 
			 Kent 50,363,643 55,006,534 56,542,935 58,326,937 
			 Medway 10,598,457 11,203,759 11,807,432 12,297,702 
			 Lancashire 47,501,286 49,562,002 48,015,947 50,556,085 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 11,908,516 12,224,551 11,130,536 11,903,700 
			 Blackpool 8,704,598 8,868,550 8,800,025 8,869,798 
			 Nottinghamshire 29,162,407 31,098,267 30,439,450 31,427,041 
			 Nottingham 17,163,621 17,807,646 18,176,747 19,454,232 
			 Shropshire 9,926,530 10,838,734 10,507,107 10,408,339 
			 Telford and Wrekin 8,013,083 8,302,730 8,347,864 8,762,957 
			 Cheshire East 11,878,104 12,930,554 12,573,601 12,825,259 
		
	
	
		
			 Cheshire West and Chester 12,276,285 12,980,027 11,981,717 12,389,182 
			 Cornwall 19,597,496 21,361,959 20,786,321 21,887,826 
			 Cumbria 18,420,351 20,067,275 18,567,577 18,771,918 
			 Gloucestershire 19,442,462 21,063,735 20,851,541 21,201,778 
			 Hertfordshire 34,080,225 36,992,781 39,306,202 39,237,977 
			 Isle of Wight 5,317,826 5,618,526 5,243,484 5,557,384 
			 Lincolnshire 24,329,535 26,506,092 26,227,239 28,159,267 
			 Norfolk 29,614,745 32,325,097 32,730,723 33,305,268 
			 Northamptonshire 26,282,604 28,538,652 29,307,409 30,134,640 
			 Northumberland 12,442,735 12,963,029 12,116,036 12,481,623 
			 Oxfordshire 21,444,930 23,481,648 23,672,625 23,106,899 
			 Somerset 17,914,726 19,527,890 19,257,150 19,767,114 
			 Suffolk 23,892,851 26,111,236 26,369,991 26,576,183 
			 Surrey 30,434,040 33,512,360 34,634,809 33,499,626 
			 Warwickshire 17,454,042 19,055,561 18,975,129 19,535,751 
			 West Sussex 23,009,493 25,190,929 25,290,867 26,024,576

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what specific evidence he considered to inform his decision of 10 December 2013 to reduce funding for 18-year-olds in full-time education.

David Laws: We looked at the evidence we had from the individual learner record and schools census and we considered the impact on 16 to 19 providers.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research he has undertaken into the comparative per pupil funding levels given by his Department to the different phases of education; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: The Department for Education has not, since 2010, commissioned any comprehensive comparative research which looks at per pupil funding levels given by the Department to the different phases of education.
	On 18 December 2013, the Department for Education published the dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for 2014-15. The table setting out allocations for each local authority has been placed in the House Library.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has given to the education of 16 to 18 year olds in each of the last five years; and what the expected funding will be to provide for the same age group in the next three years.

David Laws: Funding allocations for 16 to 18-year-olds for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			 Academic year Funding (£ million) 
			 2009-10 5,832 
			 2010-11 6,243 
			 2011-12 6,181 
			 2012-13 6,048 
			 2013-14 6,095 
		
	
	These figures are for further education courses, but do not include apprenticeships.
	The figures cannot be directly compared across all years.
	1. The funding figure for 2009/10 does not include 19 to 24 year-old students with learning difficulties and disabilities (LLDD), who were included in the funding remit in subsequent years.
	2. A new funding formula was introduced for 2013/14. The number of institutions funded directly for 16 to 18 year-olds' provision increased, and some funding was moved to the dedicated schools grant (DSG).
	The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will determine funding for future years in due course.

Education: Finance

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons his Department plans to reduce by 17.5 per cent the funding for 18 year-olds in education from September 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: Following the spending round in June and the autumn statement on 5 December 2013, Official Report, columns 1101-1113, the Department for Education has had to find further savings from its unprotected budget. The Department's policy priorities for the 16-19 participation budget are: to support the increased participation age for 16 and 17-year-olds; to maintain the additional funding for disadvantaged students; and, as far as possible, to maintain the national funding rate per student.
	We have therefore decided to make the savings required in the academic year 2014/15 by reducing the participation requirements for full-time 18-year-olds.

Education: Finance

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make an assessment of the effect of the changes announced to funding for 18-year-olds in full-time education, including the effect on 18-year-olds who will not have received two years of post-16 education.

Matthew Hancock: The change to funding for full-time 18-year-olds in education in academic year 2014/15 applies to less than a fifth of 16 to 18-year-old students. The change will cause a loss of funding of around 2% across the 16 to 18 education sector. We plan to publish the impact assessment in due course.

Education: Finance

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason his Department did not undertake a consultation before announcing a reduction in funding for 18 year olds in full-time education.

Matthew Hancock: We wanted to inform colleges and schools of the decision as soon as possible, to support planning for the 2014/15 academic year. It has been standard practice under various Governments not to consult on funding rates.

Foster Care

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how public sector spending reductions affect his Department’s plans for foster care services.

Edward Timpson: In October 2013, the Department for Education published a statistical release which provides a summary of the planned expenditure by local authorities on a range of services relating to schools, education, children and young people’s services for the financial year 2013-14. This shows that, for looked-after children, local authorities were planning to increase spending by £64 million to £3,262 million in 2013-14. This will include funding the 75% of looked-after children who are supported in foster care placements. No specific information on foster care spending is available.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 213W, which set out a range of activities the Government is funding to support the recruitment and retention of foster carers.
	In addition to those mentioned in my previous response, the Department for Education has:
	1. funded research into the make-up of the foster carer work force and the potential to attract a broader range of people into fostering;
	2. awarded a two-year contract to FosterTalk to deliver Fosterline, a confidential, free of charge advice service for foster carers;
	3. provided almost £10.5 million in 2013-14 to 58 local authority partnerships for the development and roll-out of evidence-based interventions, many of which support foster carers; and
	4. awarded £90,000 to a consortia led by Research in Practice to develop training materials for social workers on fostering and adoption.

Foster Care

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements he is making to extend the provision of foster care up to age 21.

Edward Timpson: The Government intends to propose an amendment to the Children and Families Bill that will make a significant change to the legislation regarding care leavers. This amendment will be tabled for the House of Lords Third Reading of the Children and Families Bill.
	The amendment will place a new legal duty on local authorities to support every care leaver who wants to stay with their former foster parents until their 21st birthday (“staying put” arrangements). This duty will come into force from April 2014 and we will be giving local authorities £40 million over the next three years to put the support arrangements in place.

Free School Meals

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department plans to make an announcement on the new criteria for free school meals under universal credit.

David Laws: The gradual introduction of universal credit, which is scheduled to be rolled out to the majority of claimants during 2016 and 2017, will mean that the current entitlement criteria for free school meals will no longer apply. We are currently working with the Department for Work and Pensions to simplify free school meals criteria under universal credit, while making sure that free lunches continue to be available to those families on the lowest incomes. The move to universal credit will not reduce the number of children entitled to free school meals.
	We will announce our proposals in due course, and will allow time for schools, local councils and children's charities to comment on those proposals.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he will continue to assess free school meal eligibility for children aged five, six and seven after the introduction of universal free school meals for this age group.

David Laws: The criteria currently used to assess eligibility for free school meals are also used to determine eligibility for a range of other deprivation-related benefits and payments, such as the pupil premium. We will continue to use these criteria to assess whether pupils are disadvantaged and should attract the pupil premium, following the introduction of universal free school meals for children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in September 2014.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the pupil premium allocation will continue to be calculated on the number of children at a school who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years after the introduction of universal free school meals for children aged five, six and seven.

David Laws: Pupil premium funding allocations for 2014-15 will continue to be based on the number of pupils recorded in the January 2014 school census as having been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years.
	After this the entitlement will continue as at present, via the appropriate passporting benefits and for the existing periods.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the criteria for free school meal eligibility will change for children aged five, six and seven after the introduction of universal free school meals for this age group.

David Laws: Under the Government's policy of universal infant free school meals all pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 will be eligible for free school meals from September 2014. This means that the current free schools meals criteria will no longer apply to that age group for the purposes of identifying pupils eligible to receive free school meals. The criteria will however continue to apply to pupils of other ages, including pupils aged seven once they leave year 2.
	The criteria currently used to assess eligibility for free school meals are however also used to determine eligibility for a range of other deprivation-related benefits and payments, such as the pupil premium. We will continue to use these criteria to assess whether pupils are disadvantaged and should attract the pupil premium, following the introduction of universal free school meals for children in reception, year 1 and year 2.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how schools can apply for funding for upgraded kitchen and dining facilities to support the introduction of universal free school meals for children aged five, six and seven.

David Laws: As the Chancellor announced in the autumn statement, we are making £150 million capital funding available to support the introduction of the universal infant free school meals entitlement from September 2014. Capital funding for maintained schools has been allocated to individual local authorities and local authorities will work with maintained schools to ensure appropriate capital support is available. Funding to support academies has been added as a distinct element to the academies capital maintenance fund (ACMF), and academies can apply to access this funding through the usual ACMF arrangements.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools will require new or upgraded (a) kitchen, (b) dining and (c) kitchen and dining facilities to support the introduction of universal free school meals for children aged five, six and seven.

David Laws: We have discussed the capital needs of schools with stakeholders, sought advice from local authorities and considered the findings of the School Food Trust's 2012 school lunch take-up survey in determining our approach to implementing the policy. As a result, we have allocated £150 million of capital funding to improve kitchen and dining facilities in schools in 2014-15. It will be for local authorities to decide how to allocate the funding among their schools. Academies and free schools that have capital needs can bid to the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has identified those schools which will require new or upgraded kitchen and dining facilities to support the introduction of universal free school meals for children aged five, six and seven.

David Laws: The Government is providing £150 million of capital funding to improve kitchens and dining facilities in schools ahead of the introduction of universal free school meals for pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 from September 2014. It will be for schools and local authorities to identify their own particular needs, and we believe that this is best achieved at a local level.

Free School Meals

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he expects schools which will require new or upgraded kitchen and dining facilities to support the introduction of universal free school meals for children aged five, six and seven to have those new facilities in place by September 2014.

David Laws: The Government expects all state-funded schools to offer a free, nutritious school lunch to all pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 from September 2014.
	We are providing £150 million of capital in 2014-15 to improve kitchens and dining facilities in schools; this will enable new facilities to be in place by September 2014.

Further Education: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consultation his Department carried out before taking its decision to resume funding for full-time 18 year old learners by 17.5 per cent in 2014-15.

David Laws: The decision to reduce funding for full-time 18-year-olds by 17.5 % in 2014-15 was made following the Department for Education's funding settlement in the Spending Round in June, and the further reduction to the Department's budget announced in the autumn statement. We wanted to inform colleges and schools of the decision as soon as possible, as they were planning for the 2014-15 academic year.

Kings Science Academy

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2013, Official Report, column 476W, on Kings Science Academy, if he will request and then publish a copy of the report on the reference which his Department made to Action Fraud which was submitted by them to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau relating to crime reference number NFRC130400222669;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2013, Official Report, column 400W, on Kings Science Academy, whether the decision to report the findings in relation to Kings Science Academy by telephone rather than in writing was authorised by a Minister.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not intend to make a request for any report by Action Fraud arising from the reporting of allegations of fraud at Kings Science Academy.
	Ministerial authorisation was given to report the allegations. Officials at the Department for Education reported the case to Action Fraud's national call centre on 25 April. An additional telephone call was made to West Yorkshire Police's Economic Crime Unit, who confirmed that this was the correct way to report fraud and that no further action was required.

Kings Science Academy

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what action was taken by his Department as a result of the email to his Department on 5 September 2013 from Action Fraud regarding Kings Science Academy, case reference NFRC130400222669;
	(2)  when (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department were made aware of the email to his Department on 5 September 2013 from Action Fraud, case reference NFRC130400222669, which indicated that the Department's reference to Action Fraud regarding Kings Science Academy was being dealt with as an information report rather than for criminal investigation.

Edward Timpson: Following receipt of the email from Action Fraud of 5 September, the Department for Education continued working with the academy on its implementation of the recommendations of both the investigation report and the evaluation of financial management and governance. The Department is in regular dialogue with the academy on a number of issues arising from the investigation, but it would not be appropriate to comment further on this—or conversations between Department officials and Action Fraud—while a police investigation is ongoing.
	The decision to investigate rests with the police authorities. When the Department was informed that a decision not to investigate had been made, the Department continued to work with the trust on matters it is responsible for. Ministers were informed of the police authorities' decision on 21 October as part of a progress report.

Kings Science Academy

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the progress of the disciplinary investigation being carried out by Kings Science Academy;
	(2)  how many times and on what dates his Department has contacted Kings Science Academy since 25 April 2013 to be updated about the status of any disciplinary action relating to the Education Funding Agency report;
	(3)  which of the invoices in Annex A of the Education Funding Agency's report on the Kings Science Academy were reported during the telephone call his Department made reporting the Academy to Action Fraud;
	(4)  who authorised the statement of 25 October 2013 by his Department on Kings Science Academy that the police had decided to take no further action;
	(5)  what the duration was of the telephone call that his Department made to Action Fraud in relation to Kings Science Academy on 25 April 2013.

Edward Timpson: Responsibility for a Principal's performance rests with the governing body of the Academy, not the Department for Education. The Department is in regular dialogue with the Academy on a number of issues arising from the investigation, but it would not be appropriate to comment further on this, or on conversations between Department officials and Action Fraud, while a police investigation is ongoing.
	The Department does not hold notes of the telephone call to Action Fraud on 25 April, or a record of how long the telephone call was. Action Fraud notified the Department on 1 November by telephone that the information provided had been wrongly classified as an information report rather than a crime report.
	The statement issued on 25 October was authorised by the Education Funding Agency's senior member of staff with lead responsibility for the investigation after discussion with departmental officials.

Meetings

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what his Department’s policy is on (a) recording and (b) retaining official records of ministerial meetings with external organisations;
	(2)  whether meetings between (a) him and (b) Ministers of his Department and external organisations are routinely minuted.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education’s policy is that meetings between Ministers and external organisations are recorded appropriately and that Private Offices keep records of any minutes taken.
	A list of these meetings is published by the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis. These lists are available online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-quarterly-returns-2013

Music: Education

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, column 606W, on music education, how much funding his Department has allocated for music education in each financial year since 2010; and how many pupils studied music as a subject in each financial year since 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: Funding for the provision of music as a national curriculum subject at both primary and secondary level forms part of the overall Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). This provides general funding to schools to support education. It is not broken down by subject or curriculum area.
	Music is a statutory part of the national curriculum in key stages 1 to 3, which means that all pupils in maintained schools will study it. In 2012/13, 41,236 Key Stage 4 pupils were entered for a music GCSE and 19,154 pupils were entered for a vocational music qualification.
	Data on numbers of pupils in academies and free schools studying music at key stages 1 to 3 are not available, but we expect the vast majority of pupils will do so as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. The Department for Education (DfE) has established a number of free schools that specialise in music, for example, Dixon's Music Primary, which expects children to learn a number of musical instruments and offers free individual and ensemble tuition by specialist musicians; and Hackney New School, which has partnered with the award-winning Hackney Music Development Trust to prepare performances, offer co-curricular projects and provide teaching expertise.
	In addition to funding through the DSG, the DfE is providing substantial funding for music education, as part of its ambition that every child should experience a high quality music education throughout their time at school. In November 2011, the Department published the National Plan for Music Education. It announced that, from 2012, music education would be provided by a new national network of music education hubs to drive excellence in music education across England, and secure improved value for money through a focus on frontline delivery.
	In addition to funding through the DSG, the total amount of DfE funding allocated for music education from 2010-11 to 2013-14 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Music Education Hubs n/a n/a 50,000,000 63,000,000 
			 Music Grants (music standards fund) 82,562,467 76,956,671 25,000,000 n/a 
			 Music and Dance Scheme (MDS) 31,500,000 29,500,000 28,000,000 28,100,000 
			 National Youth Music Organisations 1 — 1 — 1 — 499,410 
			 In Harmony 1,000,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 
			 Music for Youth 120,000 95,000 110,000 110,000 
			 Sing Up 10,000,000 4,000,000 0 0 
			 Total 125,182,467 111,051,671 103,610,000 92,209,410 
			 1 Included in MDS

National College for Teaching and Leadership

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the most recent appraisal of the performance of the leader of the National College for Teaching and Leadership undertaken in line with the senior civil service performance management system.

David Laws: No. Performance appraisals are a private document and as such we cannot publish that of the leader of the National College for Teaching and Leadership. To do so would be a potential breach of the Data Protection Act.

Pre-school Education

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many two year olds are receiving early years education in settings rated as satisfactory or requires improvement.

Elizabeth Truss: Local authorities have been under a. statutory duty to secure a place for any eligible two-year-old since 1 September 2013. By October 2013, local authorities estimated that around 92,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a place. Formal data on the number of two-year-olds in funded places will be gathered through the Early Years and Schools Censuses, which will take place in January 2014 and will be published in summer 2014. This will include information on the number of two-year-olds accessing free early education places, together with information on Ofsted ratings.

Pupil Exclusions

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to reduce the number of school exclusions for children with special educational needs;
	(2)  how many special educational needs pupils have been excluded from maintained schools in each year since 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: We are addressing the underlying causes of exclusion for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) through provisions in the Children and Families Bill and the revised SEN Code of Practice. A key focus of our reforms is the earlier identification of SEN and a more targeted response to these needs.
	We have reinforced in statutory guidance on exclusion that early intervention for disruptive behaviour should include an assessment of whether appropriate provision is in place to support any SEN that a pupil may have. The guidance also makes clear that head teachers should avoid excluding permanently any pupil with a statement of SEN.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his latest assessment is of how the pupil premium is helping the poorest students.

David Laws: Since the pupil premium was introduced in 2011, the gap between free school meal pupils and their peers has narrowed by three percentage points, according to results from the 2013 key stage 2 mathematics tests.
	We are spending an additional £900 per pupil this financial year on the poorest children to raise attainment, with an additional payment of £53 for primary-aged pupils. The rate is increasing from April to £1,300 per pupil for primary-aged pupils and £935 for secondary-aged pupils. Looked after children and those leaving care through adoption, under a Residence Order or Special Guardianship Order will attract £1,900 from April.
	Since September 2013 there has been a heightened focus in Ofsted school inspections and new measures in performance tables to make schools more accountable for the performance of their disadvantaged pupils.

Regional Schools Commissioners

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding has been provided to establish regional school commissioners in (a) the current financial year and (b) each of the next three years.

Edward Timpson: Regional schools commissioners will be established from summer 2014, therefore no new funding has been assigned in the current financial year. As work is ongoing to recruit these individuals and secure their offices, the costs in future years are still to be determined. However, any costs will be met within existing departmental administration budgets, which are being cut overall by 50% in real terms by 2015.

Regional Schools Commissioners

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether regional school commissioners will advise him on education for 16 to 19 year olds in their respective regions.

Edward Timpson: Regional schools commissioners (RSCs) will undertake functions on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education. These are expected to include: monitoring performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies; taking decisions on the creation of new academies; and supporting the national schools commissioner to ensure that there are sufficient sponsors to meet local need. The RSC will fulfil this role for all academies, including where academies and free schools offer 16-19 provision.

Regional Schools Commissioners

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what interaction he will expect regional school commissioners to have with (a) the Education Funding Agency and (b) Ofsted.

Edward Timpson: Regional schools commissioners, as civil servants in the Department for Education, will work closely with colleagues in the Education Funding Agency and with Ofsted to fulfil their roles.

Regional Schools Commissioners

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether principals of further education and sixth form colleges will be represented on the headteacher boards to be established to support regional school commissioners.

Edward Timpson: The headteacher boards will comprise of local education leaders, including headteachers from academies rated as outstanding by Ofsted. This will ensure that skilled academy leaders have a voice in the development of the academy system in their region. The remit of the boards will not extend to further education or sixth form colleges and, therefore, we do not anticipate automatic representation for their Principals.

Regional Schools Commissioners

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on which of his specific statutory responsibilities he expects the regional school commissioners to advise him.

Edward Timpson: Regional schools commissioners will undertake functions on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). These are expected to include: monitoring performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies; taking decisions on the creation of new academies; and supporting the national schools commissioner to ensure that there are sufficient sponsors to meet local need.

Regional Schools Commissioners

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans that the new regional schools commissioners will take office.

Edward Timpson: Regional schools commissioners are expected to take up post in time for the 2014/15 academic year.

Regional Schools Commissioners

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the estimated cost is of establishing the new regional schools commissioners.

Edward Timpson: Regional schools commissioners will be established from summer 2014, and therefore no new funding has been assigned in the current financial year. As work is ongoing to recruit these individuals and secure their offices, the costs in future years are still to be determined. However, any costs will be met within existing departmental administration budgets, which are being cut by 50% in real terms by 2015.

Regional Schools Commissioners

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the terms of employment will be of the new regional schools commissioners.

Edward Timpson: It is planned that the regional schools commissioners will be appointed as civil servants on five-year fixed-term contracts.

Regional Schools Commissioners

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the powers will be of the new regional school commissioners.

Edward Timpson: No new powers are being introduced. As fixed term civil servant appointees, the regional schools commissioners will undertake functions on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). These are expected to include: monitoring performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies; taking decisions on the creation of new academies; and supporting the national schools commissioner to ensure that there are sufficient sponsors to meet local need.

Samsung

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether a (a) member of his Private Office and (b) policy official attended the meeting he had in May 2013 with representatives of Samsung; and for what reason no minute or record was taken of that meeting.

Elizabeth Truss: One official from the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), Private Office attended the meeting. No policy officials attended. The purpose of the meeting was to find out more about the work of Samsung and their involvement in education. Only one action arose from the meeting: to invite Samsung to the technology round table and this was carried out.

School Information (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2013, Official Report, column 651W, on School Information (England) Regulations 2012, what the level of compliance with the School Information (England) Regulations 2012 is.

David Laws: We do not routinely collect this information centrally. While Ofsted routinely checks school websites before inspections, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with legal requirements rests with governing bodies and head teachers. If a parent, or other party, believes that a school is not complying with the requirements, they are entitled to raise this with the governing body. If their complaint is not resolved and they believe that the school has failed to discharge its duty or acted unreasonably, they can raise their complaint with the Secretary of State.

Schools: Buildings

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost of the additional 8,000 surveys that will be undertaken for the Property Data Survey.

David Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has recently instructed the Education Funding Agency to proceed with additional surveys as part of the on-going work of the Property Data Survey Programme. The current estimate for the additional 8,000 surveys is an average of £704 per survey, before VAT. This is a modest additional cost to ensure that our significant maintenance budgets are well spent.
	In 2005 the last Government decided to stop collecting information on the conditions of school buildings. This meant it was impossible to know the condition of all school buildings and therefore where investment was needed. We believe this decision was flawed which is why the Department for Education has been collecting up to date information on school buildings through the Property Data Survey.
	This data will enable us to make sure future funding is targeted towards those educational establishments where it is most needed.

Schools: Buildings

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on contractors to (a) carry out property data surveys and (b) provide asset management software to support the delivery of the Property Data Survey programme.

David Laws: The Secretary of State instructed the Education Funding Agency to proceed with the Property Data Survey programme in response to recommendations made in the James Review. This included undertaking an additional 11,708 surveys. The Department has spent an average of £642 per survey, before VAT, on contractors to (a) carry out property data surveys and (b) provide asset management software to support the delivery of the Property Data Survey programme.
	In 2005 the last Government decided to stop collecting information on the conditions of school buildings. This meant it was impossible for the Department to know the condition of all school buildings and therefore where investment was needed. We believe this decision was flawed, which is why the Department for Education has been collecting up-to-date information on school buildings through the Property Data Survey.
	This data will enable us to make sure future funding is targeted towards those educational establishments where it is most needed.

Schools: Finance

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the expected timeframe for the introduction of a new National Funding Formula for schools is.

David Laws: The Chancellor announced in June that we would consult on how best to introduce a national fair funding formula, with implementation starting in 2015-16.

Schools: Greater Manchester

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many of the schools assessed by Ofsted in Greater Manchester in 2013 were rated as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requiring improvement and (d) inadequate.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Schools: North West

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in the North West of England have been assessed as being (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate since the introduction of the revised assessment framework in September 2013.

David Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty's chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Schools: Personnel Management

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of human resource services in academies; and what the HR costs of the school system were in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2012-13.

Edward Timpson: The Department does not hold records of estimated expenditure by academies at this level of detail. The Department does require academies to submit an estimate of their income and expenditure for both the academic and financial year. The estimated cost of human resource services is included within the broader category of support costs. The Department is unable to extract those costs specific to human resource services.
	The Department does not hold records of HR expenditure in the school system. The Department does require all schools maintained by local authorities in England to complete a Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) return at the end of each financial year. The CFR return includes expenditure on a range of staff costs but the Department is unable to individually identify HR expenditure.

Shannon Matthews

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  when he made public the decision not to publish the serious case review on the case of Shannon Matthews;
	(2)  on what basis he made the decision not to publish the serious case review on the case of Shannon Matthews;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2013, Official Report, columns 449-50W, on Shannon Matthews and the answer of 12 December 2013, Official Report, column 381W, on Shannon Matthews, if he will give the (a) case reference number and (b) name of the presiding judge who issued the Consent Order at the High Court on 19 June 2013.

Edward Timpson: I refer my hon. Friend to the responses of 18 November 2013, Official Report, column 745W, 29 November 2013, Official Report, column 449W and 12 December 2013, Official Report, column 381W.

Special Educational Needs

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of special educational needs students attained more than five A* to C grade GCSEs or equivalent, including English and mathematics, in each of the last five years.

Edward Timpson: The requested information for England can be found in table 1 of the Statistical First Release: ‘GCSE and equivalent attainment by pupil characteristics in England: 2011 to 2012’1.
	GCSE attainment for 2013 by pupil characteristics will be published on 23 January 2014.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-attainment-by-pupil-characteristics-in-england

Teachers: Training

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that initial teacher training students receive the appropriate support for teaching students with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties.

David Laws: The Department for Education requires that all trainee teachers meet the teachers’ standards before they can be awarded qualified teacher status (QTS). These standards include a requirement that teachers must adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils. Teachers should have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs, and be able to adapt teaching to engage and support them.
	Ofsted inspects initial teacher training (ITT), including how well teachers are prepared to meet these standards. Inspections also examine how trainees are prepared to teach early reading.
	In addition, the Department for Education provides funding to the Dyslexia SpLD Trust and to Nasen to provide information and training materials to improve the quality of support available to pupils with dyslexia or literacy difficulties. The Dyslexia SpLD Trust is working with schools and ITT providers to offer a professional development framework.

Young People: Unemployment

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many 16 to 18-year-olds were not in education, employment or training in (a) England, (b) London and (c) Hendon constituency in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The Department does not hold constituency-level NEET data. Local authorities, however, collect information on 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training in each local authority area in England. This information is published annually on the Department’s website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/participation/neet/a0064101/16--to-18-year-olds-not-in-education,-employment-or-training
	although the quality of the data is dependent on the local data collection arrangements.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Army: Germany

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 440W, on Army: Germany, what account he took of paragraph 7.24 of the Leader of House’s Guide to Parliamentary Work in the preparation of that answer.

Brandon Lewis: It is long-standing government practice, under this and previous Administrations, not to provide information about interdepartmental discussions, so as not to undermine collective responsibility, or inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views, or otherwise prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.
	The hon. Member was previously conversant with such practices when he was in Government, as evident by his replies to parliamentary questions such as 23 June 2009, Official Report, columns 743-44W.

Army: Germany

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 440W, on Army: Germany, whether he has taken any specific action in relation to the re-basing of armed forces personnel.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has taken no specific action in relation to the re-basing of armed forces personnel. I am aware colleagues at the Ministry of Defence are fully engaged with local authorities and service providers.

Curzon Institute

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 157W, on the Curzon Institute, whether the contract agreed with the Curzon Institute (a) was advertised beforehand and (b) open to other organisations invited to bid for it.

Stephen Williams: holding answer 16 December 2013
	The Curzon Institute approached my Department with a bid for grant funding to support a project it was taking forward to highlight the contribution made by Commonwealth nations to the First World War. We felt that this project had a good strategic fit with the Department's desire to take the Commonwealth aspect of the Centenary forward, and awarded them a grant of £120,000. This was not let as a competitive contract because the Department was not buying a service. Grant funding was provided to support the organisation in delivering its own project.
	More information about the project can be found on my Department's website:
	www.gov.uk/government/news/commonwealth-contribution-to-first-world-war-to-be-commemorated

Curzon Institute

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 157W, on the Curzon Institute, whether Afzal Amin was involved in negotiating this contract.

Stephen Williams: holding answer 16 December 2013
	As I have outlined to the hon. Member in my answers to her previous questions, my Department has a grant funding agreement with Curzon Education to support a commemoration programme highlighting the crucial contribution of Commonwealth countries during the First World War.
	Mr Amin was involved in the discussions with civil servants, solely in his capacity as an official representative of Curzon Education/the Curzon Institute (for the avoidance of doubt, not in any other personal or political capacity).
	More information about the project can be found on my Department's website at:
	www.gov.uk/government/news/commonwealth-contribution-to-first-world-war-to-be-commemorated

Fire Services: South West

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make a statement regarding the proposed merger of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue services.

Brandon Lewis: The Government may support authorities where locally-led and locally-supported mergers are shown to deliver improved cost effectiveness and efficiencies. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), will consider applications to combine two local fire and rescue authorities where proposals have been consulted on and have local support.
	Equally, nothing prevents such authorities moving ahead with back office integration and sharing of administrative services straight away, to help decide sensible savings.

Fires: Deaths

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department defines a fire death; and how his Department records such deaths.

Brandon Lewis: Fire deaths are defined as being all fatalities which result from injuries that occurred as a result of a fire. These include any casualty who subsequently dies from such injuries.
	The Department receives electronic records of all incidents attended by fire and rescue authorities, and these include details of casualties. Numbers of fire incidents, fatalities and non-fatal casualties are published in the Department's Fire Statistics Monitor publication at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics-monitor

Fires: Electrical Safety

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many household fires were caused by electric heaters in each of the last 10 years; and how many such fires resulted in (a) injuries and (b) fatalities.

Brandon Lewis: The number of household fires whose source of ignition was an electric heater and related casualties are shown in the table. Over three quarters of these fires and 85% of the resulting casualties were the result of misuse of the appliance, for example items either covering or too close to the appliance.
	The Department's Fire Kills campaign promotes a range of fire safety messages, primarily around the importance of working smoke alarms, to help drive down the number of fires and associated casualties. Fire Kills works in close partnership with the Electrical Safety Council to raise awareness of electrical fire safety messages, including the safe use of electric heaters. Together, we coordinate Electrical Fire Safety Week each year to create a hook for both local and national news stories and events to promote these messages.
	
		
			 Accidental dwelling fire incidents and casualties where the source of ignition is electric heater, England, 2003-04 to 2012-13 
			  Number of incidents Fatalities Non-fatal casualties 
			 2003-04 401 8 117 
			 2004-05 511 13 123 
			 2005-06 560 18 170 
			 2006-07 494 10 121 
			 2007-08 515 7 116 
			 2008-09 478 10 122 
			 2009-10 372 9 110 
			 2010-11 474 7 170 
			 2011-12 347 9 119 
			 2012-13 456 15 142

Housing: Demolition

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings were demolished by each of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders in each year that scheme was in operation.

Kris Hopkins: holding answer19 December 2013
	The Audit Commission published a review of the Housing Market Renewal programme (Audit Commission, Housing market renewal, March 2011, p.9) that projected there would be 30,987 demolitions from 2002 to 2010-11. Full figures by type can be found in the Audit Commission report, while figures on individual areas are available at:
	http://archive.audit-commission.gov.uk/auditcommission/housing/marketrenewalpathfinders/strategicreviews/pages/strategicreviewofprogress2010.aspx.html
	This Government has cancelled the Pathfinder programme and are instead bringing these homes back into use for the communities who need them. We have provided £235 million in direct funding to housing providers and community groups to create homes from empty property which meet the needs of their community. Our delivery partners have committed to creating up to 15,000 homes from empty property by 2015.
	More broadly, the New Homes Bonus has rewarded over 93,000 long-term empty properties being brought back into use.

Ministers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on ministerial salaries in the last year for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: According to the most recent annual accounts, the Department spent £227,000 on ministerial salaries in 2012-13 (excluding social security costs). This compares with £272,000 in 2009-10.
	In May 2010, the coalition Government cut Ministers' salaries by 5% and then froze ministerial salaries for the rest of the Parliament. This represents a significant cut in real terms, and shows how Ministers have led from the front in tackling senior pay and delivering sensible savings.

Travellers

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2013, Official Report, columns 364-5W, on Travellers, if the Government will work with the research project at Salford University on continuing to update statistical data in relation to the number of Roma in England, Scotland and Wales, in order to inform its ongoing strategy in relation to Roma.

Stephen Williams: The Government engages with a wide range of experts on polices relating to Roma. In particular, Government officials attend meetings of the National Roma Network, the membership of which includes local authorities, non-governmental organisations and academics, including the authors of the Salford University report on Roma in the UK.

Urban Areas

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to support small high street businesses.

Brandon Lewis: The Government recognises that small businesses are a vital part of high streets and is committed to supporting them, as highlighted in our support for Small Business Saturday on 7 December. On 5 and 6 December we announced a range of powerful new measures to provide the tools for local communities to transform their high streets and town centres, including the biggest business rates support package for over 20 years.
	We are introducing a business rates discount of £1,000 for smaller retail premises for two years from April, and 50% business rates relief for up to 18 months for new occupants of shops that have been vacant for a year. We are capping next year’s business rates RPI increase at 2%. As well as doubling small business rate relief for a further year to March 2015, we will relax the rate relief criteria to remove the disincentive for the smallest businesses to take on second properties. Other measures to support high streets include tackling aggressive and unhelpful parking policies, a review of business improvement districts, consultations on new permitted development rights, further planning simplification, a call for evidence on red tape and support for the digital high streets. More information can be found in the press release at:
	www.gov.uk/government/news/eric-pickles-launches-package-of-support-for-local-shops
	Smaller retailers will also benefit from the Government’s introduction this year of a £2,000 employment allowance for all businesses to reduce their national insurance contributions bill each year, and a falling corporation tax rate. Government will make it cheaper for businesses to employ young people by abolishing employer national insurance contributions for under 21-year-olds on earnings up to £813 per week. Small retailers can also take advantage of the range of support offered by Government to help small and medium-sized businesses to start and thrive.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Electricity Generation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what measures are in place to ensure that capacity market agreements are properly structured to support the independent financing of new power projects.

Michael Fallon: The proposals for a Capacity Market are the subject of a public consultation which has just closed and included questions on the status of the proposed capacity agreements and investibility of the design.
	In finalising the design, we will be seeking to find the right balance between ensuring the Capacity Market is investible for the new power projects we need, and ensuring consumers are not taking on too much risk on behalf of investors.

Electricity Generation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if the Government will review the proposed penalty regime for the capacity market to ensure that independent generators are not excluded financially from participating in it in favour of the big six energy suppliers.

Michael Fallon: The proposals for a Capacity Market are the subject of a public consultation which has just closed and included questions on the proposed penalty regime and its impact on the investibility of the design for both big incumbent and independent capacity providers.
	A proposed cap on penalties and the concept of a four hour warning should help ensure the risks of participation remain manageable for investors, but we will be reviewing consultation responses on these issues and seeking to ensure that capacity auctions are competitive for all sizes of provider.

Electricity Generation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if the Government will extend the length of the proposed capacity market agreements to facilitate new competition in the wholesale generation market.

Michael Fallon: The proposals for a Capacity Market are the subject of a public consultation which has just closed and included questions on appropriate length of capacity agreements for new power plants.
	We will be reviewing consultation responses and seeking to ensure that capacity auctions facilitate competitive new entry to the market.

Energy

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if the Government will introduce support mechanisms to help fuel cells and hydrogen energy reach their potential in the UK.

Gregory Barker: Fuel cells are energy conversion devices which offer zero emissions at the point of use. Hydrogen is an energy vector (like electricity), which depending on how it is produced, has the potential to be low or zero carbon. Fuel cells and hydrogen have potential applications for stationary power generation, transport, and battery replacement in some niche markets such as materials handling. The technology is on the verge of commercialisation.
	Three Government Departments (DECC, BIS and DFT through the Office of Low Emission Vehicles) have been participating in UK2Mobility, an industry-led project to develop a business plan for the roll out of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the UK. This would facilitate the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) which leading automotive manufacturers are committed to introducing on a commercial basis in selected markets from 2015. Government will be considering the support mechanisms which may be needed to facilitate the deployment of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, fuel cell electric vehicles, and the production of low-carbon hydrogen. In addition the Government has launched a call for evidence on measures to support uptake of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), including FCEVs, in 2015-20 using the £500 million we committed in this year's spending round.
	For power generation, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Dan Byles) on 25 October 2013, Official Report, columns 291-2W.

Energy: Meters

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many electricity smart meters were installed in domestic properties in Scotland in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013;
	(2)  how many gas smart meters were installed in domestic properties in Scotland in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013;
	(3)  how many non-domestic properties in Scotland have (a) smart meters and (b) advanced meters.

Michael Fallon: The Government publishes quarterly statistics on the number of smart, smart-type and traditional meters installed and operated in domestic properties and smart, advanced and traditional meters installed and operated in smaller non-domestic sites by the larger energy suppliers (i.e. British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE) in Great Britain. The latest quarterly release was published on 12 December 2013:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/smart-meters-statistics
	These estimates are released as Experimental National Statistics which means they are official statistics undergoing an evaluation process prior to being assessed as National Statistics. They are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development, and as a means to build in quality assurance during development. Currently, data is published only at Great Britain level.

Energy: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his statement of 2 December 2013, Official Report, column 631, on energy bills, what assessment his Department has made of the distributional effects of paying for social and environmental obligations on (a) energy bills and (b) taxes.

Michael Fallon: The Government's latest assessment of the impact of climate change and energy policies on consumer energy bills was in March 20131. This presents an assessment of the distributional impacts of climate change and energy policies across different household types, including by expenditure decile, household composition, heating fuel type, tenure and rurality.
	We have not carried out a similar analysis of the distributional impacts of funding social and environmental obligations through general taxation.
	1https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-impacts-of-energy-and-climate-change-policies-on-energy-prices-and-bills

Forests: Developing Countries

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the role of forest governance and national legislation in implementing REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Gregory Barker: The Government recognises the important role of national parliaments and legislators in stopping deforestation.
	For 12 years the UK has supported programmes to reduce illegal logging, and reform forest governance and markets. Currently the DFID-led Forest Governance Markets and Climate Programme provides £79 million of the UK's International Climate Fund between 2011 and 2016 to benefit poor people by putting in place the governance and market reforms that reduce illegal logging and deforestation.

Forests: Developing Countries

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the role national parliaments and legislators play in implementing REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Gregory Barker: Good governance is a prerequisite for better management of forests in developing countries, including for the mechanism known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
	There is a role for national parliaments and legislators in implementing REDD+ strategies in developing countries. For example they can help define the national strategies and plans, provide the basis to set up national forests monitoring systems, systems for measuring and reporting of emissions, and to ensure that the social and environmental safeguards are addressed and respected.
	The DFID-led Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme is supporting reforms to improve forest governance in a number of countries, including Liberia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia.

Forests: Developing Countries

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total amount is which his Department provides to (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral funds to support capacity building in national parliaments and the development of national legislation as part of the preparation and implementation of REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Gregory Barker: DECC along with DFID and DEFRA provide support to protect forests in developing countries through the UK's International Climate Fund, with a portion of this dedicated to capacity building. UK support includes:
	(a) UK bilateral programmes
	£15 million low-carbon agricultural project with Colombia—will help cattle farmers plant trees on cattle-grazing land to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect forests, increase biodiversity and improve livelihoods.
	£79 million Forests Governance Markets and Climate initiative—works in Liberia, Ghana, Indonesia and other countries to help stop illegal logging.
	£20 million Forestry Knowledge and Tools (KnowFor) initiative—supports good practice forest management by working with leading international think-tanks to influence policy and decision makers.
	£20 million Nepal Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme—reduces rural poverty and maintains healthy ecosystems by helping local communities manage their forests.
	£25 million to help Indonesia improve accountability for land-use decisions, manage corruption in the system for issuing plantation and mining permits, and support spatial planning in Papua for sustainable economic development in Indonesia's last undisturbed forest.
	(b) Multilateral funds
	£15 million to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (£3.5 million to the FCPF Readiness Fund and £11.5 million to the FCPF Carbon Fund)—administered by the World Bank to help 37 countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.
	£100 million to the Climate Investment Funds' Forest Investment Programme (CIF's FIP)—administered by the World Bank to help eight countries scale up investments in action against deforestation.
	£50 million to the Congo Basin Forest Fund—administered by the African Development Bank to help the 10 countries of the Congo Basin improve forest their management.
	£75 million to the BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes—a public-private partnership administered by the World Bank will support countries or jurisdictions in advancing their implementation of REDD+.
	Support for REDD+ phase II (implementation) and phase III (results-based payments) can also support the development of legislation by incentivising countries to move through the REDD+ readiness process when the necessary reforms are made.

Forests: Developing Countries

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how his Department supports the development of national REDD+ legislation in developing countries.

Gregory Barker: The Government recognises the importance of the development of national REDD+ legislation in developing countries.
	We are active in negotiations under the UNFCCC and multilateral forest funds such as the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Readiness Fund—more countries are demonstrably progressing on REDD+ readiness through the FCPF Readiness Fund and we see progress on the implementation of REDD+ activities including the development of national REDD+ strategies, and systems for national forest monitoring, measuring and reporting emissions, and reporting on social and environmental safeguards.
	The DFID-led £79 million Forest Governance, Markets and Climate (FGMC) Programme under the International Climate Fund supports reforms to improve forest governance in a number of countries, including Liberia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia.

Forests: Developing Countries

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other donor countries on allocating a proportion of all multilateral REDD+ funds to support capacity building in national parliaments and the development of national legislation as part of the preparation and implementation of REDD+ strategies in developing countries.

Gregory Barker: Multilateral REDD+ funds work in developing countries with a wide range of stakeholders, and in principle have the potential to support national parliaments and the development of national legislation in the programmes which they support. For example, our most recent discussions on this issue were at a UK-hosted forest event in Warsaw on 20 November. The Secretary of State joined Norway and the United States to announce a total of $280 million for the new BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes. This will include technical assistance which may be used to support such capacity building.

Fracking

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of (a) recent research published in the US into radon gas contamination of shale gas gathered from fracking and (b) the implications of that research for prospective hydraulic fracturing in the UK.

Michael Fallon: A recent report by Public Health England, titled ‘Review of the Potential Public Health Impacts of Exposure to Chemical and Radioactive Pollutants as a Result of Shale Gas Extraction’, looked into the potential of radon contamination from shale gas operations in the UK. This concluded that:
	“it is unlikely that shale gas extraction or related activities would lead to any significant increase in public exposure from outdoor radon levels or indoor levels in nearby homes”.
	The environmental regulator (Natural Resources Wales in Wales) will consider any application on current best practice and information as is relevant to the specific site in the application.

Fracking

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the volumes of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) which may be extracted from the earth in future fracking operations in the UK; what proposals he plans to make for the conditioning, treatment, packaging and long-term management of such radioactive wastes; what information his Department holds on how the US has handled such NORM waste; and what assessment he has made of how the UK can learn from the US experience.

Michael Fallon: The potential volumes of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) will depend on the scale of production, which cannot be estimated until there is exploratory drilling and testing. In the US disposal of NORM is regulated state by state and in some includes reinjection of waste waters underground, a practice that is not permitted in the UK. In the UK, we have established regulatory processes for disposal of NORM and, as with mining or mineral processing, the relevant environmental regulator is responsible for assessing the risk, if any, from NORM at any particular site and licensing or permitting activities appropriately. Water UK, who represent the water industry and the UK Onshore Operators Group, have recently signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to help minimise the impact of onshore oil and gas development in the UK on the country's water resources, this includes the expected volumes, composition of waste water and preferred disposal routes. UK Water Industry Research are modelling the demand for waste water services to advise the water industry.

Water Power

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with water companies on the possibility of generating electricity from the flow of water within water mains by installing Archimedean screws within suitable water main pipes.

Gregory Barker: DECC has had no such discussions.

Wind Power: Dorset

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the impact of policy changes relating to offshore wind farms on Navitus Bay.

Michael Fallon: No such assessment has been made.

TRANSPORT

Airports Commission

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to the public purse of the Airports Commission will be over the life of the Commission.

Robert Goodwill: The independent Airports Commission was set up by the Government to examine how best the UK can maintain its international connectivity. On setting up the Commission in 2012, the Department set a budget of £20.35 million to allow for building, staff and IT costs, expert consultancy, publishing, travel and hosting public consultation events over the four financial years 2012-13 to 2015-16.

Airports Commission

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of the further study of the Isle of Grain option outlined in the interim report of the Airports Commission; and what contractors have been engaged to complete this work.

Robert Goodwill: The Airports Commission is independent and was set up by the Government to examine how best the UK can maintain its international connectivity.
	Having agreed an overarching procurement approach with the Department for Transport, the commission’s work programme and spending decisions within its agreed budget are matters for it. Potential increases in expenditure which cannot be met within the commission’s existing budget will be considered by DFT alongside other priorities across the Department.

Alstom

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have held with Alstom in respect of its decision to restructure its transport sector.

Stephen Hammond: There have been no discussions with Alstom. As a private sector company it is up to Alstom how they operate their business.

Belfast City Airport

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect on Belfast City Airport of the removal of the city airports category in proposed EU regulation (2011/0398(COD)) on Noise-related operating restrictions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed EU regulation (2011/0398(COD)) on Noise-related operating restrictions that would have on the regulatory status of Belfast City Airport;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect on smaller airports of proposed EU regulation (2011/0398(COD)) on Noise-related operating restrictions.

Robert Goodwill: The purpose of the proposed EU Regulation (2011/0398 (COD)) is to ensure a harmonised approach to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at airports, where member states wish to introduce them. Decisions to introduce such restrictions remain a matter of national competence.
	The Government recognises that smaller airports can cause noise problems for their local communities. Although airports with less than 50,000 annual movements are not within scope of the proposed regulation, this does not prevent noise-related operating restrictions from being introduced at such airports where appropriate. The Government's policy is to encourage any such noise controls to be agreed locally.
	The Government does not therefore consider that the proposed new regulation will have any detrimental effect on Belfast City airport or other smaller airports.

Bus Services: Disability

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to improve disabled access on the UK bus network.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that disabled people have the same access to transport services and opportunities to travel as other members of society.
	The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) require facilities such as low floor boarding devices and state that any regulated public service vehicle shall be fitted with not less than one wheelchair space. All buses used on local or scheduled services with 22 passengers or more are required to be fully PSVAR compliant by 2015, 2016 and 2017, depending on the bus type.
	According to the Department's latest statistics (published in September 2013), 92% of buses in England now have low floor designs, with 78% of the total fleet having a PSVAR accessibility certificate.
	We are also looking at a number of ways of improving the accessibility of public transport, as reflected in our Accessibility Action Plan, published in December last year.

Calderdale Railway Line

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment plans he has for new rolling stock for the Calderdale line; and when he expects new stock to come into service.

Stephen Hammond: The Department is aware of stakeholder aspirations for increases to the capacity on the Calderdale line. The next opportunity to consider capacity on this route will be as part of the re-letting of the Northern franchise in 2016, in advance of which a full stakeholder consultation will be undertaken.

Crossrail Line

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of public funding required for the Crossrail rolling stock contract; and how much of that funding will be provided by (a) his Department and (b) Transport for London.

Stephen Hammond: In March 2013 the Department for Transport (DFT) and Transport for London (TfL), in agreement with Her Majesty's Treasury, changed the financing of the Crossrail Rolling Stock and Depot contract to a fully publicly funded procurement from a PFI style deal.
	The contract is estimated to cost in the region of £1 billion. The DFT, as a joint sponsor of the project, has agreed to contribute £100 million to this contract. The remaining costs are the responsibility of TfL.

Crossrail Line

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the evaluation of bids for the Crossrail rolling stock contract will take into account the social and economic effect on (a) associated supply chains, (b) rail apprenticeships, (c) rail manufacturing skills and (d) other matters in Derby and its wider region.

Stephen Hammond: The Crossrail Rolling Stock and Depot invitation to negotiate includes requirements for responsible procurement. This means that bidders are required to set out how they will engage with the wider supply chain and provide opportunities for training, apprenticeships, and small and medium size businesses within their procurement strategy. Bidders are also required to establish an appropriate local presence to manage the delivery of the contract.
	The tender documents were reissued in April 2013, and are available in the Libraries of the House.

Crossrail Line

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in respect of the Crossrail rolling stock contract from the (a) Mayor of London and (b) Japanese government.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), regularly meets with the Mayor of London to discuss a wide range of transport matters including Crossrail. Their most recent meeting was on 12 December 2013. The Secretary of State has had no recent meetings with the Japanese Government.

Cycling

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2013, Official Report, columns 303-4W, on cycling, how the £35 million invested to deliver safer junctions for cyclists has been allocated by (a) region and (b) city.

Robert Goodwill: Of the £35 million funding allocated to cycling, £15 million was granted to Transport for London (TfL) for investment in cycle safety. This included improved provision for cyclists at Bow, St George's Circus, Waterloo Roundabout, and at other locations identified in TfL's Cycle Safety Junction Review. £20 million has been allocated to schemes focused on areas outside London. The list of schemes outside London is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181205/cycle-safety-fund-list.xls
	The scheme information is broken down by region and cities. An update of the list of schemes which includes two further schemes will be available on the web shortly.

Driving: Licensing

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of suspended driving licences involving the DVLA's medical officer have been outstanding for (a) three, (b) three to six and (c) over six months; how many cases there were in each such category 12 months ago; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of such cases.

Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) handle approximately 625,000 cases each year where investigations are required due to a medical condition being declared. In the interests of road safety the more complex cases are considered by the DVLA's Medical Advisers.
	The following information is based on the number of cases under consideration where individuals do not have entitlement to drive because their driving licence has been refused or revoked previously.
	
		
			 Length of time case has been under consideration Number of cases currently under consideration as of 2 January 2014 Number of cases that were under consideration as of 2 January 2013 
			 Up to 3 months 6,202 10,271 
			 3-6 months 2,340 3,500 
			 Over 6 months 1,246 1,560 
		
	
	The DVLA continually strives to reduce the time taken to conclude all its cases. The DVLA has undertaken reviews of its processes and procedures, and as part of its Digital Agenda is looking, wherever possible, to automate these. The DVLA is also looking to strengthen its resources, particularly in the handling of the more complex cases.

Great Western Railway Line

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the expected completion date of the Great Western MainLine electrification works.

Stephen Hammond: I expect that Great Western electrification will be completed in phases between 2016 and 2018. Department officials work closely with Network Rail who are delivering this project.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the latest estimate of the costs of the Hoo Green to Barmfurlong section of the proposed High Speed 2.

Robert Goodwill: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat) dated 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 771W.
	The estimated construction cost for the Winterbottom to Bamfurlong section of the route is £360 million.
	This part of the route consists of three sections:
	HSM12 (£110 million), HSM21 (£185 million) and HSM22 (£65 million).
	Detailed estimates of the cost of land and risk will be determined at a later stage of development.

London Underground

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London and Transport for London on what protections will be put in place to ensure that passengers do not pay more for tickets as a result of not receiving correct travel advice following ticket office closures;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London and Transport for London about the range of tickets available to passengers following London Underground ticket office closures;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London and Transport for London about the effect on (a) women, (b) disabled people and (c) older people of London Underground ticket office closures;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with Transport for London about the effect of London Underground ticket office closures on the provision of tickets for and travel advice about mainline railways;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London and Transport for London on availability of advice to passengers following London Underground ticket office closures;
	(6)  what assurances he has received from the Mayor of London and Transport for London about staffing at London Underground stations following the proposed ticket office closures;
	(7)  what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London and Transport for London about the length of time stations may be unstaffed as a result of reductions in station staff;
	(8)  what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London and Transport for London on the effect on the security of passengers and staff of London Underground ticket office closures.

Stephen Hammond: Transport for London (TfL) set out their vision for the future of the Tube on the 21 November. TfL advised Ministers about their proposals ahead of the announcement. However, responsibility for London Underground, including decisions regarding the use of ticket offices, is a matter for TfL and the Mayor.
	The Mayor and TfL have made a commitment that all stations will remain staffed while services are running and have the right number of more visible staff to provide travel advice and meet the needs of customers in ticket halls, at ticket machines and on platforms.
	London Underground has carried out an equality impact assessment to identify the impacts of its proposals which shows that the changes will be positive or neutral for all equality target groups. London Underground is listening carefully to any concerns or issues raised during its current consultation with trades unions and engagement with all stakeholders. This will inform the changes at tube stations that take place in 2015.

Network Rail

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  following the reclassification of Network Rail, whether he will take additional powers to direct Network Rail's borrowing;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of changes to Network Rail's cost of borrowing following its reclassification by the Office for National Statistics.

Stephen Hammond: It is in the interest of both Government and Network Rail that the company continues to undertake it’s financing in the most efficient way possible. The company's financing decisions will continue to be driven by value for money for taxpayers, with appropriate consideration given to the fiduciary duties of Network Rail's directors and the long-term policy objectives for the railway. The Government, the ORR and Network Rail will explore whether alternative approaches or refinements to the current model could deliver a more efficient approach, and if so from what point of time these might be introduced and how the benefit of any such efficiencies would be secured for funders. Until then, Network Rail will continue to raise finance with support of the Financial Indemnity Mechanism.

Network Rail

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the reclassification of Network Rail on maintenance and upgrade work following the reclassification of its debt.

Stephen Hammond: As set out in the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin’s) written statement of 17 December 2013, the Office for National Statistics' decision on the classification of Network Rail does not affect Network Rail's £38 billion settlement for the operation, maintenance and enhancement of the railway in the five years from 2014.

Network Rail

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who will sign off the pay and bonuses of Network Rail executives following Network Rail's reclassification by the Office for National Statistics.

Stephen Hammond: As the Secretary of State set out in his written statement of 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 93WS, the Department for Transport (DfT) has agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Network Rail (NR) to work through issues of accounting, budgeting and assurance; existing debt and new borrowing; and corporate governance with the company.
	The conclusions of that work will be set out in a framework agreement between NR and DfT to be published before the reclassification takes effect on 1 September 2014.

Northern Rail

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what revenue support has been received by Northern Rail since 2010.

Stephen Hammond: Revenue support figures are published by the Office of Rail Regulation and can be seen at
	http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/html/html/6d363642-c3a9-4a29-9477-542810798fa7

Northern Rail

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the (a) risk and (b) benefits of devolving Northern Rail services;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of potential Government funding requirements in the event that responsibility for Northern Rail services is devolved;
	(3)  what the allocation of funding responsibilities will be between central Government and local authorities in the event that responsibility for Northern Rail services is devolved;
	(4)  when the Government plans to make a decision on the devolution of Northern Rail services; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin) met a delegation from the Rail North consortium of local authorities in the North of England on 21 November 2013 to take forward their proposals for the devolution of the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises. He confirmed the Government's support for the principle of devolution. Devolution could support greater local accountability, improved rail efficiency, passenger benefits and economic growth. The Secretary of State agreed with Rail North leaders an initial partnership structure to take forward devolved decision-making in the north of England to help manage the risks associated with a project of this scale.
	The partnership will cover the re-franchised Northern and TransPennine services. The Department will run the competitions for the replacement franchises from February 2016, working closely with Rail North. The intention is to bring the management of those replacement franchises into a formal partnership structure. The partnership will build on the good work Rail North has done over the past year to build consensus on a long term rail strategy and a structure for decision-making in the north. It will be designed to facilitate local funding from Rail North partners in addition to core funding from the Department.
	Rail North and Department officials are developing further details of the partnership for presentation to the Secretary of State and the Rail North local authorities in January.

Northern Rail

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the new short-term franchise for Northern Rail services is a contract extension or a new contract.

Stephen Hammond: The new franchise for services currently operated by Northern Rail will be a new franchise contract made by Direct Award.

Northern Rail

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation his Department has undertaken with passengers regarding the award of a short-term franchise for Northern Rail services.

Stephen Hammond: No formal consultation has been undertaken with passengers regarding the planned Direct Award to Northern. As part of the discussions about the new contract we are engaging closely with Rail North and other stakeholders.

Northern Rail

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to his Department in respect of (a) consultancy fees and (b) other matters has been in respect of the short-term franchise for Northern Rail services.

Stephen Hammond: The cost to date of external advisers on the Northern Direct Award totals £393,000. The cost of all franchising activities will be published annually in the Department for Transport accounts.

Pedestrian Crossings

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review departmental guidance on (a) pedestrian crossings and (b) the time allowed for a pedestrian to cross.

Robert Goodwill: The Department's guidance on designing pedestrian crossings, including setting timings, is given in Local Transport Note 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings, Local Transport Note 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings, and Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/05: Pedestrian Facilities at Signal-controlled Junctions.
	The Department is currently undertaking a review of traffic signing legislation, including the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions. Once this is concluded, the Department will consider the need to update guidance to reflect these changes.
	Traffic authorities are responsible for ensuring that their pedestrian crossings provide everyone with enough time to cross the road safely. The timings used at each crossing will vary, as they depend to an extent on individual site circumstances. In designing crossings, traffic authorities will also need to assess the impact of the timings on all traffic. The Department provides advice on calculating timings for crossings in guidance, but this is not mandatory.
	The Department recommends that where a crossing may be used by a large number of older people or those with mobility issues, for example outside residential care homes, this should be taken into account when setting timings.

Pedestrian Crossings

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a review of guidance on the location of pedestrian crossings to ensure that casualties are minimised.

Robert Goodwill: The Department's guidance on designing pedestrian crossings, including setting timings, is given in Local Transport Note 1/95; The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings, Local Transport Note 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings, and Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/05: Pedestrian Facilities at Signal-controlled Junctions.
	The Department is currently undertaking a review of traffic signing legislation, including the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions. Once this is concluded, the Department will consider the need to update guidance to reflect these changes.

Pedestrian Crossings

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review (a) the current guidance on pedestrian crossings and (b) the amount of time pedestrians have to cross the road at those crossings.

Robert Goodwill: The Department's guidance on designing pedestrian crossings, including setting timings, is given in Local Transport Note 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings, Local Transport Note 2/95: The Design of Pedestrian Crossings, and Traffic Advisory Leaflet 5/05: Pedestrian Facilities at Signal-controlled Junctions.
	The Department recommends that where a crossing may be used by a large number of older people or those with mobility issues, for example outside residential care homes, this should be taken into account when setting timings.
	The Department is currently undertaking a review of traffic signing legislation, including the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions. Once this is concluded, the Department will consider the need to update guidance to reflect these changes.

Pedestrian Crossings: Schools

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the effect of recent changes in the number of school crossing patrol officers on the safety of children's journeys to and from school.

Robert Goodwill: The provision of school crossing patrol services, is a matter for local authorities. The Government has no plans to review the impact of any changes made.
	The Government's latest statistics show that there were 6,106 child casualties in accidents occurring between 7.30 am and 8.59 am or between 3.00 pm and 4.59 pm on a school day in 2012, of which 827 were killed and seriously injured (KSI). This represents a fall of 12% in KSI compared to the 2005-09 average.

Railways: Compensation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether train operating companies qualify for Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail when timetabled rail passenger services are cancelled in advance of bad weather;
	(2)  which train operating companies have received Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services that occurred on (a) 27 October 2013, (b) 28 October 2013 and (c) 29 October 2013; and what the amount (i) applied for and (ii) paid by Network Rail was in each case;
	(3)  if he will take steps to ensure that Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services that occurred on (a) 27 October 2013, (b) 28 October 2013 and (c) 29 October 2013 will be passed on to passengers;
	(4)  what discussions with Passenger Focus he has had regarding Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services that occurred on (a) 27 October 2013, (b) 28 October 2013 and (c) 29 October 2013;
	(5)  what discussions with Network Rail he has had regarding Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to train operating companies for unplanned disruptions to timetabled rail passenger services that occurred on (a) 27 October 2013, (b) 28 October 2013 and (c) 29 October 2013.

Stephen Hammond: Schedule 8 payments from Network Rail to the train operators are applicable for cancellations of timetabled services due to bad weather if the decision to cancel is made after 2200 the day before; if the cancellation of timetabled services is agreed before 2200 the day before, then the timetable for the day as changed, and therefore schedule 8 payments do not apply.
	Compensation in the later case is dealt with elsewhere in the Track Access Agreement, under the schedule 4 compensation regime. Details of the compensation regimes in the Track Access Agreements are published by the Office of Rail Regulation.
	In general, the payments made by Network Rail to train operators under their Track Access Agreements, and those made by the operator to passengers for delays, serve different purposes and therefore are not comparable.
	Compensation paid to train operators for delays for which Network Rail is responsible (including those arising from external events such as cable theft) is a matter for Network Rail. The compensation regime is a contractual and commercially confidential element within the Track Access Agreement between Network Rail and each operator, and is overseen by the Office for Rail Regulation.
	Compensation is set on a formula basis designed, on average, to compensate the train operator for the future loss of revenue arising from disruption, including any longer-term loss of revenue from a sustained period of poor performance. It is not related to and does not include provision for any additional costs incurred by train operators, such as compensation costs to passengers.
	Compensation paid by train operators to passengers for delays is based on an entirely different system, in line with the terms of the operator's Passenger's Charter, and may vary for example with the type of ticket purchased. A number of existing franchises operate, as will all future ones, the Delay/Repay compensation system, under which compensation for delay is paid regardless of whether the delay was attributed to Network Rail or a train operator.
	The Minister responsible for rail meets regularly with senior representatives of Network Rail and other industry parties to discuss current rail performance. Passenger Focus is the official, independent consumer organisation representing the interests of rail users nationally. As such, Ministers would not normally expect to discuss matters concerning performance payments with them.

Railways: Fares

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs will fall on the public purse in the form of (a) additional and (b) total payments to each train operating company as a consequence of the decision to hold rail fares at RPI+0 in (i) 2014 and (ii) 2015.

Stephen Hammond: The Autumn Statement set out how the Government will provide relief on the prices hardworking people pay for train travel across Britain through a commitment to reduce the average regulated fare rises to RPI plus 0% for 2014. This measure will require Government to adjust levels of franchise compensation, and the amount to be paid will be determined through our negotiations with train operators.

Railways: Fares

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs will fall on the public purse in the form of (a) additional and (b) total payments to each train operating company as a consequence of the fares and ticketing review.

Stephen Hammond: The Fares and Ticketing Review announced a number of positive measures for rail passengers. Three specific measures will require payments to train operating companies. The reduction in fares basket flex to 2% will require Government to adjust levels of franchise compensation, and the amount to be paid will be determined through negotiations with train operators.
	We will also be providing £18 million of funding to train operating companies who successfully bid to undertake the announced trials of flexible ticketing and single leg pricing.

Railways: Franchises

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the implications are for TUPE arrangements of the statement on page 81 of the franchising prospectus that there will be an umbrella agreement which will cover the process including the purchase of the ECML from DOR via a share purchase agreement.

Stephen Hammond: ECML will be purchased by the winning bidder of the franchise competition and will continue to provide the passenger services as a party to the franchise agreement. As such there is no relevant transfer under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE).

Railways: Freight

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of former British Rail freight sidings currently owned by freight operating companies would be of greater benefit to rail freight industry (a) in West Yorkshire and (b) on the East Coast Main Line if they were acquired by Network Rail.

Stephen Hammond: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, who can be contacted at the following address:
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG

Railways: Subsidies

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the total premium payments made by Northern Rail since 2010 are;
	(2)  what Government subsidy has been received by Northern Rail since 2010;
	(3)  what subsidy has been paid by the Government to Virgin West Coast since their franchise was extended in December 2012.

Stephen Hammond: This information is published by the Office of Rail Regulation at:
	http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/6d363642-c3a9-4a29-9477-542810798fa7

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average quantity of effluent that is discharged directly onto railway tracks each week.

Stephen Hammond: When asked in early 2013, Network Rail was unable to estimate the current level of waste discharged on to the tracks.

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of trains which still discharge effluent directly onto railway tracks;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of trains which do not have effluent retention tanks.

Stephen Hammond: Over three quarters of all trains either have retention tanks fitted or are not equipped with toilets.
	This proportion will increase significantly as new rolling stock is introduced over the next few years.

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which routes trains still discharge effluent onto railway tracks.

Stephen Hammond: Certain services on the Great Eastern, Great Western, Midland and East Coast main lines are served by trains which discharge effluent to the track. This is also the case for certain local and regional services in East Anglia, Wales, Scotland, the east and west midlands, the north and south-west England.
	However, significant progress has been made since 2001 in rolling out vehicles with retention tanks, with a halving in the number of trains which discharge waste to the tracks. This will continue over the next few years as more new rolling stock with retention tanks is introduced, and as tanks are fitted to older units.

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department has made representations to the (a) rolling stock operating companies and (b) train operating companies to end the discharging of effluent onto railway tracks;
	(2)  whether his Department has made representations to the (a) rolling stock operating companies and (b) train operating companies to modify rolling stock which currently do not have effluent retention tanks.

Stephen Hammond: The rail industry is aware of Ministers' desire to see effluent discharge to tracks phased out.
	The Department is currently considering proposals from a number of operators to extend their franchises, which include programmes to fit retention tanks to older fleets.

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by (a) rolling stock operating companies and (b) train operating companies to modify rolling stock which does not have retention tanks for effluent.

Stephen Hammond: There is currently no formal or legal requirement to stop train operating companies from discharging toilet waste on to the track or to force rolling stock leasing companies to retrofit controlled emission toilets to those trains that currently discharge waste to the track.
	Despite this, the industry is taking steps to reduce the number of trains that discharge effluent to the track. A fleet of older diesel trains in East Anglia is currently being fitted with retention tanks, while the Department is currently considering proposals from a number of operators to extend their franchises, which include programmes to fit tanks elsewhere.

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government requires all new rolling stock on UK railways to have effluent retention tanks.

Stephen Hammond: Since 1996, the rail industry has adhered to a code of practice which requires effluent retention tanks to be fitted to all new rolling stock with toilets.

Railways: Waste Disposal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department issues guidelines on the frequency which train effluent tanks must be emptied.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not issue guidelines on the frequency which train effluent tanks must be emptied. This is an operational matter for the railways.

Rolling Stock

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what leasing costs have been paid to rolling stock leasing companies on each franchise in each of the last ten years;
	(2)  what the total leasing costs are that have been paid to rolling stock leasing companies in the last 10 years.

Stephen Hammond: The leasing costs for rolling stock are the result of negotiations between two private sector commercial entities. Putting such information in the public sphere would give advantage to each party's competitors.

Rolling Stock

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he has taken to introduce the regulation of fair rates of return for the rolling stock operating companies recommended by the McNulty Rail Value for Money study;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to hold rolling stock in the public interest as recommended by the McNulty Rail Value for Money study.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State's March 2012 Command Paper sets out the Government's approach to the sector in light of the McNulty study.
	The Government's policy is for a market led approach to rolling stock. Current and future franchise competitions give greater flexibility to franchisees over the rolling stock decisions they make when bidding for franchises which will drive greater value in the sector.

Rolling Stock

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of market share of the rolling stock leasing companies.

Stephen Hammond: For franchised rail passenger fleets, ownership by vehicle is as follows:
	
		
			 ROSCO 
			 Percentage 
			  Electric Multiple Unit Diesel Multiple Unit Coaches Loco Total 
			 Angel Trains 32 37 33 46 34 
			 Eversholt 37 13 27 13 29 
			 Porterbrook 30 37 37 39 33 
			 Voyager Leasing — 13 — — 3 
			 Macquarie 1 — — — 1 
			 Beacon Rail <1 — — — <1

Virgin Trains

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations there are in the franchise and contract extension of Virgin to maintain its rolling stock; and whether those obligations specify the number and location of maintenance depots.

Stephen Hammond: The franchise agreement requires West Coast Trains Ltd, trading as Virgin Trains, to operate and maintain the specified train fleet. The franchise agreement does not specify the number and location of maintenance depots.

Virgin Trains

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations there are in the franchise and contract extension for Virgin Trains to maintain its rolling stock; and whether those obligations specify the number and location of maintenance depots.

Stephen Hammond: The franchise agreement requires West Coast Trains Limited, trading as Virgin Trains, to operate and maintain the specified train fleet. The franchise agreement does not specify the number and location of maintenance depots.

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether Alstom Traincare is responsible for all train maintenance on the west coast main line;
	(2)  what arrangements will be made to ensure the continuation of maintenance of the west coast main line in the event of the sale of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: Franchisees operating trains on the west coast main line are responsible for the provision of rolling stock required to operate their services.

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) he and (b) his officials have been advised whether Alstom will be selling Alstom West Coast Traincare; and what discussions he or they have held with Alstom in respect of the future of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: There have been no discussions with Alstom in respect of the future of West Coast Traincare.

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on train reliability and quality if Alstom West Coast Traincare is sold.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport has made no such assessment. Franchisees operating trains on the west coast main line are responsible for the provision of rolling stock required to operate their services.

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether maintenance staff employed by Alstom West Coast Traincare will be transferred to Virgin Trains in the event of the sale of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: If a company is sold, the Government expects all relevant employment law will be obeyed and complied with.

West Coast Railway Line

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether maintenance staff employed by Alstom West Coast Traincare will be transferred to another contract in the event of the sale of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: This is a matter for Alstom.

West Coast Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers used the West Coast Main Line during peak periods between (a) Euston and Birmingham and (b) Euston and Manchester in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport (DFT) does not hold this information.
	Statistics published by DFT:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2012
	show rail passenger numbers on trains throughout the day in several major cities, as well as the levels of peak crowding, but these are not available by route.

West Coast Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether maintenance staff employed by Alstom West Coast Train Care will return to Virgin Trains under the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulation 2006, in the event of the sale of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: If a company is sold, the Government expects all relevant employment law will be obeyed and complied with.

West Coast Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether maintenance staff employed by Alstom West Coast Train Care will move to another contract under the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulation 2006, in the event of the sale of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: If a company is sold, the Government expects all relevant employment law will be obeyed and complied with.

West Coast Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Alstom has informed his Department that it plans to sell Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: The Department is not aware of any plans to sell West Coast Traincare.

West Coast Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have held with Alstom in respect of the future of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: There have been no discussions with Alstom in respect of the future of West Coast Traincare.

West Coast Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether Alstom West Coast Traincare is responsible for all train maintenance on the West Coast Main Line;
	(2)  what arrangements his Department plans to make to ensure the continuation of train maintenance on the West Coast Main Line in the event of the sale of Alstom West Coast Traincare.

Stephen Hammond: Franchisees operating trains on the West Coast Main Line are responsible for the provision of rolling stock required to operate their services.

West Coast Railway Line

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on train reliability and quality in the event that Alstom West Coast Traincare is sold.

Stephen Hammond: No such assessment has been made. Franchisees operating trains on the West Coast Main Line are responsible for the reliability and availability of rolling stock required to operate their services.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of GDP represented by the cost of alcohol-related conditions and accidents.

Jane Ellison: Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost society £21 billion1 annually through alcohol-related illness, crime and lost productivity. This represented 2% of workplace-based gross value added in England in 20102.
	1 The figure of £21 billion is made up of costs to the national health service in England, costs of alcohol-related crime in England and lost productivity across the United Kingdom. The inclusion of lost productivity in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland means that the estimate for costs as a proportion of gross value added (GVA) in England will be overstated, albeit only slightly.
	2 Official estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) are not produced for England. GVA is used in the estimation of GDP. GVA is equal to GDP less the value of taxes on products and plus the value of subsidies on products. GVA measures the value added by units engaged in production and is the difference between the value of goods and services produced (output) and the cost of raw materials and other inputs which are used up in production (intermediate consumption).

Ambulance Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which bodies receive the funds accruing from penalties imposed on NHS trusts because of ambulance handover delays; and what restrictions there are on the use of those funds;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 26 November 2013, Official Report, column 143-4, on ambulance handover times, if he will publish the workings behind the figure of 38 per cent; how he assessed that a reduction in delays was as a result of penalty fines; whether any other possible causal factors in that reduction were considered in preparing that Answer; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will list the number and amount of penalty fines paid by each trust for ambulance handover delays since April 2013;
	(4)  whether he has had discussions with (a) ambulance and (b) nursing staff representatives on the effect on staff morale of the penalty fines for ambulance handover delays introduced since April 2013; what his assessment is of the causes of ambulance handover delays; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Any funds accruing from penalties imposed on national health service trusts because of ambulance handover delays go back to the clinical commissioning group as commissioner, with the local Urgent Care Working Group having a role in saying how the money is reinvested in the system—although this is for local determination.
	Records of the number of sanctions paid by each trust are not held centrally. Ambulance handovers data are only collected centrally during winter (November to March)—via winter daily sitreps. Data are collected on the first part of the turnaround process:
	1. Ambulance arrival to clinical handover;
	2. Clinical handover to going out on next call.
	The figures on ambulance handover delays are published on the NHS England website over the winter period. There is a time series file for each year, which is available at:
	www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/winter-daily-sitreps/
	At the time of the question asked by the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) of 26 November 2013, Official Report, columns 143-4W, the latest data available were to the 20 November 2013, or 13 data points from 4 November. Ambulance delays for this period were 9,904. For the first 13 days in 2012-13, the figure was 15,880. This represents a 38% reduction.
	Penalty fines were assessed as being the main factor leading to the reduction in delays, as it is the major change introduced in the system. We understand that an area with few handover delays according to ambulance figures (the south-west) also has the most comprehensive system of fining acute providers in place.
	Various discussions have taken place on broader aspects of ambulance trusts and delayed handovers, none specifically on the issue of the effect on staff morale.
	Patient handover is a key part of delivering a positive experience of emergency care. Systems are in place to ensure efficient handover. However we recognise handover sometimes takes longer than the recommended 15 minutes, particularly during peaks of demand—one of the main causes for delays. Other causes include a more complex patient case mix or multiple ambulance attendances.

Arthritis

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further steps his Department plans to take to implement the recommendations made in, Services for People with rheumatoid arthritis, Tenth Report of Session 2009-10 of the Committee of Public Accounts, HC 46.

Norman Lamb: The Department published its response to the recommendations made in Services for People with rheumatoid arthritis, Tenth Report of Session 2009-10 of the Committee of Public Accounts in a Treasury Minute published on 15 July 2010, which can be found at:
	www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm78/7885/7885.pdf
	Of the nine recommendations, the Department agreed with one, partially agreed with five and disagreed with three. Where appropriate, and with regard to the devolved responsibilities of local commissioners, the Department set out actions it would take, or that were already under way, in response to the recommendations including:
	supporting a group of charities to produce materials aimed at raising awareness of inflammatory arthritis conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis;
	providing patients and clinicians with a new patient information resource, specifically designed to provide better access to information covering the whole of the patient journey;
	supporting the work of a group of charities to produce materials for general practitioner (GP) practices and pharmacies aimed at raising awareness of inflammatory arthritis symptoms among members of the public and health care professionals; and
	seeking reassurance from the Royal College of General Practitioners that rheumatoid and inflammatory arthritis was given sufficient prominence in GP training to ensure that all GPs have appropriate competence to recognise, manage and refer appropriately in the primary care context.
	Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has responsibility for securing high quality outcomes for people with long-term conditions, such as arthritis, and through the mandate we have asked NHS England to make measurable progress towards making the national health service among the best in Europe at supporting people with ongoing health problems to live healthily and independently, with much better control over the care they receive.

Breast Cancer

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve public health policies to tackle the chemical causes of breast cancer.

Jane Ellison: The Department currently has no plans for new public health policies to tackle potential chemical causes of breast cancer, but would be happy to look at any evidence with our colleagues in Public Health England.

Breast Cancer

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS funding was allocated to (a) all breast cancer research, (b) prevention of breast cancer and (c) research into the links between breast cancer and exposure to carcinogenic, hazardous and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in each of the last 10 years; what plans he has for future funding of research on prevention of breast cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: Expenditure on these topics by national NHS (national health service) research and development programmes (to March 2006) and by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) programmes (from April 2006) are shown in the following table. These figures include research training awards.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Breast cancer (all) Breast cancer prevention Potential links between breast cancer and exposure to carcinogenic, hazardous and endocrine-disrupting chemicals 
			 2003-04 0.6 0.1 0.0 
			 2004-05 0.6 0.1 0.0 
			 2005-06 0.7 0.1 0.0 
			 2006-07 0.6 0.1 0.0 
			 2007-08 0.9 0.2 0.0 
			 2008-09 1.2 0.3 0.0 
			 2009-10 1.8 0.8 0.0 
			 2010-11 2.5 1.3 0.0 
			 2011-12 2.5 1.0 0.0 
			 2012-13 4.8 1.3 0.0 
		
	
	Expenditure on breast cancer research in these years through national clinical research networks (to March 2006) and through the NIHR Clinical Research Network (from April 2006) cannot be disaggregated from total expenditure on these networks.
	Estimates of spend on breast cancer research (including research on breast cancer prevention) by NIHR biomedical research centres, biomedical research units and clinical research facilities are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2009-10 4.2 
			 2010-11 4.0 
			 2011-12 4.0 
			 2012-13 4.1 
		
	
	These research centres, units and facilities have not carried out any research specifically on potential links between breast cancer and exposure to carcinogenic, hazardous and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
	Prior to the establishment of the NIHR in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total aggregated expenditure on national priority areas, including cancer. They do not provide details of research into breast cancer or other particular cancer sites.
	Total spend in future years by the NIHR on research on breast cancer prevention depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including breast cancer prevention. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.

Breasts: Plastic Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance the Government is giving to people who have had faulty breast implants while compensation for those people is agreed.

Norman Lamb: The fraud perpetrated by the manufacturers of the PiP implants affected many patients who had chosen cosmetic surgery in the private sector. Where patients experience difficulty in getting support or redress from the private clinics responsible for their care, and where a patient is entitled to NHS services, the national health service will support the removal of PiP implants by:
	an examination by imaging to see if there is any evidence that the implant has ruptured; and
	removal of PIP implants if, informed by an assessment of clinical need, risk or the impact of unresolved concerns, a woman with her doctor decides that it is right to do so.
	The NHS will replace the implants if the original operation was done by the NHS, or if the patient would have met the NHS criteria for breast augmentation as set out in the 2006 guidance from the Modernisation Agency, e.g. after surgery for breast cancer.

Cholera

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of cholera were treated by the NHS in each region in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Cholera is a notifiable disease under the Health Protection Regulations 2010.
	Public Health England (PHE) Gastrointestinal Reference Unit provides reference services for cholera in England and Wales. Surveillance data from laboratory reporting for England only are presented in the following table.
	
		
			 Laboratory-confirmed cases of Vibrio cholerae serogroup 01/0139 reported by the PHE Gastrointestinal Reference Unit: England (by PHE region) from 2008-12 
			 PHE region 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 London 1 1 1 8 2 
			 Midlands and East of England 3 4 3 2 3 
			 North of England 5 2 5 9 1 
			 South of England 6 8 3 5 5 
			 Grand total 15 15 12 24 11 
		
	
	PHE regions are assigned based on the original diagnosing laboratory as residential postcode for all cases are not available. As the numbers are quite small, data broken down by smaller regions are not published due to the risk of deductive disclosure.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the review by NHS England on the future funding formula for the distribution of resources to clinical commissioning groups across England, if he will delay any final decision on this matter until all relevant representations have been received relating to the possible effect of narrowing the gap in both life expectancy and historic consequences of industrial and environmental health impacts.

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the consequences of his Department's proposal to revise the formula for funding allocations to clinical commission groups (CCGs) for the (a) funding of the Greater Huddersfield CCG and (b) health of the people it serves.

Daniel Poulter: Responsibility for resource allocation is a matter for NHS England as set out in ‘The Mandate’. The Government has made clear in the mandate that one of the governing principles should be equal access for equal need, and that changes in allocations should not result in the destabilising of local health economies.
	Initial findings from NHS England's fundamental review of allocation policy, which drew on the expert advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation and involved a range of external partners, were considered by the NHS England board at their meeting on 17 December 2013. A new formula to set clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocation targets was agreed.
	The new formula uses a new indicator to recognise how health inequality should be reflected; uses a powerful new method to derive estimates of need; reflects more up-to-date population growth using general practitioner lists; and, reflects the new responsibilities of CCGs.
	I refer the right hon. and hon. Members to the written ministerial statement issued by the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), on 17 December 2013, Official Report, columns 88-89W.

Cockermouth Community Hospital

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the compliance of the process by which a commercial lease was entered into for a pharmacy at Cockermouth Community Hospital with guidance on market tendering exercises for such provision.

Daniel Poulter: The compliance of the process by which a commercial lease was entered into for a pharmacy at Cockermouth Community Hospital is a local matter and it is for NHS England to assess.

Deloitte

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of correspondence from Peter Coates, Commercial Director in his Department, to Mike Turley of Deloitte MCS Limited, dated 19 January 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has not retained a copy of the correspondence between Peter Coates, Commercial Director and Mike Turley of Deloitte MCS Limited, dated 19 January 2010.

Dementia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken from scan to dementia diagnosis is; and whether his Department intends to repeat the scan every two to three years.

Norman Lamb: On 29 November, the Royal College of Psychiatrists published a report of its audit of memory services in England. The report showed the average wait from assessment, which may include a brain scan, to diagnosis is 8.36 weeks. Decisions on further scans are made locally by clinicians. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

Diseases

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of bronchitis were treated by the NHS in each region in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how cases of Crohn's disease were treated by the NHS in each region in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many cases of Bell's palsy were treated by the NHS in each region in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: The following table provides a count of finished admission episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of bronchitis, categorised by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) of treatment for the years 2008-09 to 2012-13.
	It should be noted that information provided in the following tables does not indicate the number of patients as a patient may have had more than one episode of care within the time period.
	The tables indicate the SHA area within which the organisation providing treatment was located.
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 SHA Description 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Q30 North East SHA 340 287 284 336 341 
			 Q31 North West SHA 617 690 791 869 961 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 566 526 530 660 887 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 311 208 294 228 379 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 501 466 453 486 674 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 520 517 567 610 774 
			 Q36 London SHA 429 410 453 451 543 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 325 281 349 331 395 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 299 318 285 360 338 
			 Q39 South West SHA 547 445 491 458 598 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Health and Social Care Information Centre 
		
	
	The following table provides a count of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of Crohn's disease, categorised by SHA of treatment for the years 2008-09 to 2012-13:
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 SHA Description 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Q30 North East SHA 3,649 3,530 3,396 3,922 3,989 
			 Q31 North West SHA 7,568 8,623 9,226 9,759 11,674 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 4,015 4,502 5,046 5,039 5,751 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 2,683 3,126 3,356 3,731 3,822 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 4,191 4,810 5,551 6,526 6,886 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 4,263 4,704 4,960 5,233 5,601 
			 Q36 London SHA 7,431 8,248 9,136 10,122 10,415 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 2,220 2,787 3,085 3,571 4,003 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 3,286 3,500 3,853 3,722 3,961 
			 Q39 South West SHA 5,021 5,930 6,007 6,984 7,540 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Health and Social Care Information Centre 
		
	
	The following table provides a count of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of Bell's palsy, categorised by SHA of treatment, from 2008-09 to 2012-13:
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 SHA Description 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Q30 North East SHA 313 457 421 365 356 
			 Q31 North West SHA 694 774 709 710 721 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 409 551 551 591 532 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 282 327 360 349 288 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 443 553 556 551 500 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 405 453 481 441 425 
			 Q36 London SHA 598 621 694 620 544 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 327 406 416 392 370 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 247 257 233 273 277 
			 Q39 South West SHA 371 449 433 441 490 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Health and Social Care Information Centre

Fractures

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support people with osteoporosis receive following a first fracture; and if he will establish a fracture liaison service linked to hospitals.

Norman Lamb: Responsibility for determining the overall national approach to improving clinical outcomes from healthcare services, including fracture liaison services (FLS), lies with NHS England.
	NHS England has advised that the FLS model recommended by the International Osteoporosis Foundation and the National Osteoporosis society has been assessed as being best practice and is being promoted.
	NHS England is aware that the provision of good FLS is not uniform across the United Kingdom and is working with clinical commissioning groups to support them to develop appropriate local services.
	It will be for the appropriate National Clinical Director at NHS England, working with the National Osteoporosis Society, to consider how to further promote best practice and treatment.

General Practitioners

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the consequences for his Department of the decision that accident and emergency training is no longer required during GP qualification; and what his policy is on such training for GPs.

Daniel Poulter: Experience of working in accident and emergency (A&E) departments has never been a requirement for qualification as a general practitioner (GP). Many doctors in Foundation and GP training do work in A&E departments as part of their training programmes. Qualification as a GP requires doctors to achieve the competencies defined in the Royal College of General Practitioners' curriculum, including managing the acutely ill patient as well as out of hours competencies.
	The Department's mandate to Health Education England (HEE) requires that:
	"HEE should ensure that GP training, produces GPs with the required competencies to practise in the new National Health Service".
	This work will need to be aligned with the independent ‘Shape of Training’ report submitted to the four United Kingdom Health Departments in October.

Hepatitis

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of hepatitis A were treated by the NHS in each region in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England receives laboratory reports of hepatitis A infection through routine surveillance. Information is not available on the number of cases which underwent treatment.
	The following table shows the laboratory reports of hepatitis A for England by region from 2008 to 2012:
	
		
			 Region 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 
			 East Midlands 17 11 7 6 4 45 
			 Eastern 25 38 37 23 20 143 
			 London 58 57 71 67 75 328 
			 North East 5 8 13 10 13 49 
			 North West 49 65 55 24 27 220 
			 South East 70 49 29 47 39 234 
			 South West 30 24 48 11 18 131 
			 West Midlands 67 60 63 41 43 274 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 29 35 41 23 40 168 
			 Total 350 347 364 252 279 1,592 
		
	
	During 2008 to 2012 there were 1,592 confirmed laboratory reports of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in England. The greatest number of reports were from the London (n=328), West Midlands (n=274), and the South East (n=234) regions. An 11% increase in the number of reports received during 2012 compared to 2011 was observed; this varied by region with a decline in the number of reports in the East Midlands, Eastern, and South East regions.
	The overall trend has been a decline in the number of reports since 2008. The increased number of reports during 2010 was due to unrelated outbreaks of hepatitis A in the London and the South West regions.

Hospitals: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS's new five year funding plan will affect hospitals in Worcestershire.

Daniel Poulter: On 17 December 2013, the NHS England board agreed on a new formula to set clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations for the next two years (2014-15 and 2015-16). Information on future CCG allocations is available in the ‘NHS England Total CCG Programme Budget Allocations 2014/15 & 2015/16’ document, which has been placed in the Library.
	On 17 December 2013, NHS England also published draft planning guidance for commissioners, which includes the requirement that commissioners develop five year strategic plans for 2014-15 to 2018-19. This guidance will help commissioners develop plans for services that more closely address the needs of local populations and deliver better integration of health and social care services. A copy of the draft planning guidance, ‘Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2014/15 to 2018/19’, has been placed in the Library.
	The development of five year strategic plans is a matter for the local NHS. My hon. Friend may therefore wish to approach the chief operating officers of the three Worcestershire CCGs—NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove, NHS South Worcestershire and NHS Wyre Forest—for relevant information.

Kidneys: Diseases

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what health education programmes his Department has initiated in the last 12 months to raise the level of public awareness of chronic kidney disease; and what further such programmes he plans to start in the next 12 months;
	(2)  if he will take steps to promote greater public awareness of acute and chronic kidney disease.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) supports local authorities to deliver the NHS Health Check programme. Modelling has shown the potential for the programme to detect over 20,000 cases of diabetes and kidney disease earlier and to prevent over 4,000 people a year from developing diabetes.. The NHS Health Check Information leaflet which accompanies the invite includes information on the risk factors for kidney disease.
	PHE is also working with NHS England to establish a National Cardiovascular Intelligence Network to map the burden of disease within the cardiovascular disease group, including renal disease and is supporting the Health Check programme to support earlier detection of chronic kidney disease.
	PHE is not currently running a marketing campaign to promote awareness of acute and chronic kidney disease, including health education programmes. The Change4Life campaign does however include a salt consumption message. High salt diets can lead to high blood pressure which is one of the most common causes of kidney disease.

Kidneys: Diseases

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of late diagnosis of chronic renal failure;
	(2)  how many people were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in Greater Manchester hospitals in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many people were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in (a) Bolton South East constituency, (b) Bolton, (c) Greater Manchester and (d) the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has responsibility for determining the overall national approach to improve clinical outcomes from healthcare services for people with kidney disease.
	The Government's Mandate to NHS England sets an objective for the national health service to make significant progress in supporting the earlier diagnosis of illness, particularly through appropriate use of primary care. This includes working with Public Health England to support local government in the roll out of the NHS Health Check programme, which facilitates earlier detection of kidney disease. It is anticipated that up to 20,000 cases of kidney disease and diabetes (a risk factor for kidney disease) could be detected via the programme each year.
	The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's 2008 guidance on the early identification and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults in primary and secondary care makes recommendations on the tests clinicians should use to diagnose CKD.
	The Department does not collect information centrally on how many people were diagnosed with CKD in Greater Manchester hospitals in each of the last five years or on how many people were diagnosed with CKD in Bolton South East constituency, Bolton, Greater Manchester and the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.
	However, a 2012 report by NHS Kidney Care estimated that around 1.8 million people are diagnosed with CKD in England, while an estimated further million are thought to have the condition but have not yet been diagnosed with it.

Mental Health Services: Kent

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the per capita spend on mental health services was by primary care trusts in (a) Medway and (b) Kent in each of the last five years; and how those figures compare to the national average in that period.

Norman Lamb: Information is not available in the format requested. The following tables provide information on reported investment in mental health services.
	
		
			 Reported investment for working age adults—England 
			 £000 
			  Total reported investment 
			  2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 
			 Total 6,628,570.71 6,550,146.26 6,001,114.96 5,849,105.67 5,512,262.49 
		
	
	
		
			 Reported investment for working age adults—Kent and Medway 
			 £000 
			  Total reported investment 
			 Primary care trust 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent 59,325.56 55,916.34 53,851.29 49,327.22 47,359.31 
			 West Kent 58,110.25 54,530.88 51,473.21 48,249.88 50,017.23 
			 Medway 27,155.29 26,816.41 24,376.92 22,278.67 18,253.74 
		
	
	
		
			 Reported investment per head of weighted working age population—South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 
			 £ 
			  2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 
			 Total 203.3 196.7 190.51 178 171 
		
	
	
		
			 Reported investment per head of weighted working age population—England 
			 £ 
			 England average 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 
			 Total 198.3 195.9 193.4 181.0 169.47 
			 Notes: 1. These surveys were commissioned annually by the Department of Health from Mental Health Strategies and published on the Department's website at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/investment-in-mental-health-in-2011-to-2012-working-age-adults-and-older-adults 2. These survey figures were based on details submitted by each organisation on their reported investment in services and consequently may not match actual outturn figures reported in annual their accounts. 3. The surveys were non-mandatory and includes some estimated data. 4. Data covers services provided for working age adults (aged 18-64). Sources: National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services, Mental Health Strategies 2011-12 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services; Mental Health Strategies 2010-11 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services, Mental Health Strategies 2009-10 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services, Mental Health Strategies 2008-09 National Survey of Investment in Adult Mental Health Services, Mental Health Strategies 2007-08.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 166-7W on mental health services: young people, how many bed days were recorded for children and young people under the age of 18 who were in a part of an adult psychiatric ward specifically set aside to meet the needs of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services patients, between 2007-08 and 2010-11.

Norman Lamb: Health and Social Care Information Centre does not hold data on children and young people on Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) wards. Therefore, it does not hold data on any ward or part of a ward designated as CAMHS. Only data on children and young people on adult wards is available.
	The following table provides the number of bed days for under 18s who have been admitted to in-patient care in national health service funded adult and elderly secondary mental health services between 2007-08 and 2010-11.
	
		
			 Number of bed days for under 18s spent in in-patient wards of adult psychiatric facilities1, 2007-08 and 2010-11-England 
			  Number of bed days 
			 2007-08 62,221 
			 2008-09 43,772 
			 2009-10 65,557 
			 2010-11 62,970 
			 1 This only includes children under 18 who have been recorded as having bed days on adult mental health wards in the Mental Health Minimum Data Set. Health and Social Care Information Centre holds data on all ages of patients on adult mental health wards but does not yet hold data about Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Source: Mental Health Minimum Data Set annual files 2007-08 and 2010-11. Health and Social Care Information Centre, Community and Mental Health Team.

NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) name was of each consultant used and (b) value was of each contract for consultancy for the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement in each year since 2005.

Daniel Poulter: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement closed on 31 March 2013. NHS Improving Quality was subsequently established to bring together the wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience of a number of NHS improvement organisations. NHS Improving Quality is hosted by NHS England.

NHS Trust Development Authority

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 600W, on NHS Trust Development Authority, how much each contract was for; and how many bidders there were for each contract.

Jane Ellison: Upon its establishment the priority for the NHS Trust Development Authority was to provide continuity of existing arrangements for those projects already under way by securing appropriate resourcing from established and experienced consultants with specific capability and knowledge of those projects.
	In recognition of this and to ensure adherence to pre-determined timescales a number of untendered arrangements were entered into on a time-limited or specific project delivery basis.
	The contractors that were engaged, the value of each contract and whether or not it was subject to competitive tender are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Contractor Cost or contact value (£) Competitive tender? 
			 Ernst and Young LLP 60,000.00 No 
			 Deloitte 61,200.00 No 
			 Gareth Cruddace Ltd 159,149.34 No 
			 Gareth Cruddace Ltd 171,000.00 Business Case 
			 Buckley Gray Consultancy 27,000.00 No 
			 IMAS 58,968.00 Business Case 
			 RJC Financial Solutions Ltd 50,000.00 No 
			 Carnall Farrar LLP 14,400.00 No 
			 Odgers Interim 30,000.00 No 
			 Foxwell Associates Ltd 28,000.00 Yes 
			 Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd 37,205.00 Yes 
			 Karen Campion 11,333.33 Yes 
			 Allen Lane Ltd 9,000.00 Yes 
			 Change-FX OD Ltd 21,333.33 No 
			 Heather Lawrence Consulting 40,000.00 No 
		
	
	
		
			 The Dearden Partnership LLP 25,000.00 No 
			 IJC Health Ltd 21,600.00 No 
			 Total 825,189.00

NHS: Crime Prevention

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2013, Official Report, column 600W, on NHS: crime prevention, how much NHS Protect spent, by area of expenditure, in each year since 2005;
	(2)  how many investigations NHS Protect has undertaken in each year since 2005; how many such investigations led to (a) criminal prosecutions and (b) the initiation of internal disciplinary procedures; and what the cost of each such investigation was.

Daniel Poulter: The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the work of NHS Protect is available at the unit's website at:
	www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Protect.aspx

NHS: Crime Prevention

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the senior responsible officer is for NHS Protect.

Daniel Poulter: There is no Department of Health post of senior responsible officer for NHS Protect. The Departmental sponsor for NHS Protect is the NHS Security Management branch head.

NHS: Finance

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that savings made in the NHS do not disproportionately affect some areas more than others.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 established a new landscape with key financial decisions, and monitoring to take place variously in the Department of Health, NHS England, Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority.
	The bulk of the Department's revenue resource funding is allocated to NHS England which is responsible for allocating the budgets for commissioning NHS services, including the local allocation to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs)-provider organisations are then paid for the provision of healthcare services from the commissioners.
	Through the Mandate to the NHS the Government provides direction for the NHS which includes the Government's expectation that the principle of ensuring equal access for equal need is at the heart of NHS England's approach to allocating budgets.
	However, decisions on the precise disposition of savings in local health economies are best made by NHS England and the CCGs, the organisations that directly commission and so have best knowledge of these services.

NHS: Land

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in London region;
	(2)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in East Midlands region;
	(3)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in West Midlands region;
	(4)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in Eastern region;
	(5)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in South East region;
	(6)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in North East region;
	(7)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in North West region;
	(8)  how much land, by hectare, is owned by the NHS but not currently in use in South West region.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	National health service organisations are responsible locally for making decisions regarding the use of their facilities, including the use of land.

NHS: Management Consultants

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 523W, on NHS management consultants, if he will name each of the contractors to whom consultancy contracts were awarded in each year from 2010 to date; and how much each individual contract was worth.

Daniel Poulter: This information is not held centrally and, in relation to the detail of each contract (i.e. with whom and the value of each individual contract), could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NHS: Standards

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions his Department is taking to improve and standardise the information in NHS service provider quality accounts; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Providers are required to publish a quality account each year. A quality account is a report about the quality of services provided by a national health service health care provider. The reports are published annually and are available to the public.
	NHS England are currently reviewing quality accounts to ensure that they give patients appropriate information on the services they use, and evaluating how quality accounts can begin to provide a more comprehensive and balanced assessment of quality. We are advised that the review will be complete such that guidance can be issued in March 2014, and trusts advised of expected changes in time for the 2014-15 financial year.

NHS: Waste Disposal

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much food waste by tonne was disposed of by the NHS in East Midlands region in each year since 2010;
	(2)  how much food waste by tonne was disposed of by the NHS in the West Midlands region in each year since 2010;
	(3)  how much food waste by tonne was disposed of by the NHS in the Eastern region in each year since 2010;
	(4)  how much food waste by tonne was disposed of by the NHS in South East Region in each year since 2010;
	(5)  how many tonnes of food waste were disposed of by the NHS in the (a) Yorkshire and Humber, (b) South West, (c) North West and (d) South East regions in each year since 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The information is not available in the format requested.

Nurses: Resignations

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of UK nurses who have left the NHS before normal retirement age in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: No estimate has been made of the number of United Kingdom nurses who have left the national health service before normal retirement age in the last five years.

Peters & Peters

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions Peters & Peters have (a) been instructed by or (b) acted on behalf of his Department in each year since 2005.

Daniel Poulter: Since 2005, Peters and Peters have acted for the Department in four cases involving civil legal proceedings. This law firm was instructed in cases in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and continued to act for the Department in one case on which they were instructed prior to 2005.

Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what structures his Department has put in place to ensure appropriate communication between clinical commissioning groups and NHS England regarding the provision of perinatal mental health services by primary and secondary care providers;
	(2)  what the average time is that women who have been referred to a specialist perinatal mental health practitioner have to wait to see that practitioner (a) across the UK and (b) by NHS trust or foundation trust;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to improve the prevention and detection of perinatal mental health problems; and what assessment he has made of progress in achieving this.

Daniel Poulter: The Mandate from the Government to NHS England includes an objective for NHS England to work with partner organisations to reduce the incidence and impact of postnatal depression through earlier diagnosis, and better intervention and support.
	It is not the Department's role to establish communication structures between NHS England and clinical commissioning groups. As steward of the health and care system, the Department sets national priorities, secures and allocates resources, supports our national bodies and holds them to account through transparent assurance processes. In order to achieve the objectives set out in the Mandate between the Government and NHS England, NHS England will need to ensure it has effective communications with clinical commissioning groups.
	NHS England will, through its Maternity and Children Strategic Clinical Networks support the continued development of maternity and perinatal mental health networks to drive improvements to access, quality of care and inter-service communication that enhances the experience of women and families generally, and more specifically for the large numbers of women who are at risk of poor mental health during pregnancy and following childbirth.
	Information on the average waiting time a woman who has been referred to a specialist perinatal mental health practitioner is not held centrally. While perinatal mental health services are based in either Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and Adult Mental Health services neither minimum data set measure the waiting times from referral to treatment.
	Improving diagnosis and services for women with pregnancy-related mental health problems is one of the Department's objectives for maternity care. Health Education England currently commissions approximately 2,500 training places each year and, working with NHS England, is committed to ensuring that sufficient midwives are trained and available, with an ambition to provide every woman with personalised one to one care through pregnancy, childbirth and during the postnatal period. This work will make recommendations on how women who have mental health support requirements receive appropriate support from specialised trained midwives. Health Education England has also agreed to work with partners to ensure that pre and post registration training in perinatal mental health is available to enable specialist staff for every birthing unit by 2017.
	The Institute of Health Visiting has delivered perinatal mental health training and introduced three interactive e-learning modules. This new resource will help health visitors in the detection and management of perinatal depression and other maternal mental health conditions. The modules focus on perinatal depression and other maternal mental health disorders, how to recognise perinatal anxiety and depression, interventions for perinatal anxiety, depression and related disorders.
	To achieve this, we are committed to having an extra 4,200 health visitors in post by 2015.
	The Department has commissioned the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at Oxford university to develop and test a perinatal mental health indicator which would reflect the mental health care a woman receives at certain critical perinatal time points: the antenatal booking, the early postnatal period and approximately one year postnatally. The project will run from April 2013 until December 2015 and the ambition is to have a maternal mental health indicator in the 2016 re-fresh of the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

Psychology

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments with occupational psychologists officials in his Department had in each of the last 10 years.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold records of numbers of officials' appointments with occupational psychologists. A referral to an occupational psychologist is one of a wide range of interventions that are available to employees through the Department's Occupational Health Service.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients from (a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Cornwall and (d) Dorset were referred to (i) Sheffield and (ii) London for stereotactic radiosurgery in each of the last three years;
	(2)  for what reasons NHS England has not maintained the number of patients being offered gamma knife treatment before concluding its review into the provision of stereotactic radiosurgery in England.

Jane Ellison: NHS England is undertaking a specific demand and capacity review project for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for intracranial conditions. This includes all type of SRS and SRT delivery platforms, including Gamma Knife.
	The project aims to review these services to ensure equitable and nationally consistent access to high quality SRS and SRT services. The project is reviewing the national patient demand for the routinely funded SRS and SRT indications that NHS England commissions in line with its clinical policies. The review will then consider the appropriate technology and capacity requirements needed to provide these services. This includes the Gamma Knife treatment delivery platform.
	All patients meeting the national clinical policies for intracranial SRS or SRT treatment will continue to have access to these treatments. However, until the review concludes, and any recommendations implemented, access will continue to be provided via NHS England's contracted SRS and SRT providers.
	Information concerning the number of patients from Somerset; Devon, Cornwall and Dorset referred to Sheffield and London for SRS in each of the last three years cannot be provided in the format requested. Data provided by county for the years identified would require considerable suppression to protect patient confidentiality owing to the small numbers involved. Suppression would remove all data of interest.
	In the following table, we have provided the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with a main or secondary operative procedure of SRS on tissue of the brain for patients living in Cornwall, Somerset, Devon and Dorset as a total for each of the three years by hospital providers in Sheffield and London. It should be noted that London data does not include BUPA—Cromwell as there is no activity for SRS submitted to the Secondary User Service of Hospital Episode Statistics by this provider.
	FCEs should not be viewed as a count of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. It should also be noted that the majority of radiotherapy procedures are carried out in an out-patient setting where the collection of this operative procedure data is not currently mandatory.
	
		
			 Provider 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust 0 * 0 
			 Barts Health NHS Trust 0 0 * 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 9 15 11 
			 Notes: 1. Data includes Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. 2. Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with an asterisk (*). 3. In 2012-13 the Barts and the London NHS Trust became the Barts Health NHS Trust.

Surgery

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many emergency surgery procedures were carried out according to the 2012-13 hospital episodes statistics data for (a) general surgery, (b) trauma and orthopaedic surgery, (c) cardiothoracic surgery, (d) urological surgery, (e) ear, nose and throat surgery, (f) neurosurgery, (g) plastic surgery, (h) paediatric surgery, (i) oral and maxillo facial surgery, (j) oral surgery, (k) surgical dentistry and (l) vascular surgery;
	(2)  how many accident and emergency attendances required (a) surgical assessment and (b) surgical treatment in 2012-13;
	(3)  how many (a) emergency surgical procedures and (b) elective surgical procedures were carried out in 2012-13.

Jane Ellison: Information concerning the number of accident and emergency attendances requiring surgical assessment and surgical treatment is not collected. Information concerning the number of emergency surgery procedures for treatment types (a) to (l) and the number of emergency surgical procedures and elective surgical procedures for the period 2012-13 cannot be provided in the format requested.
	Information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) in 2012-13 where a main procedure or intervention took place following an emergency admission, by the following treatment specialities of general surgery, trauma and orthopaedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, urological surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, paediatric surgery, oral and maxillo facial surgery, oral surgery, surgical dentistry and vascular surgery, is shown in Table 1. These data include all procedures and interventions, as the Health and Social Care Information Centre are unable to identify surgical procedures without specific coding advice.
	Separately, a count of FCEs in 2012-13 where the method of admission was elective or emergency and where a main procedure or intervention took place is shown in Table 2.
	It should be noted that it is not possible to identify whether the procedure was an emergency procedure, only that a procedure or intervention took place following an emergency admission. In addition to this, FCEs should not be considered a count of patients, as an individual may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
	
		
			 Table 1: Count of finished consultant episodes1 where a main operative procedure or intervention took place by treatment specialty2 where the method of admission was emergency for 2012-13. 
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Group Treatment specialty description Finished consultant episodes 
			 (a) General Surgery General Surgery 301,982 
			 (b) Trauma and orthopaedic surgery Trauma and Orthopaedics 240,351 
			 (c) Cardiothoracic surgery Cardiothoracic Surgery 3,099 
			 (d) Urological surgery Urology 66,656 
			 (e) Ear, nose and throat surgery Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) 37,338 
			 (f) Neurosurgery Neurosurgery 22,846 
			 (g) Plastic surgery Plastic Surgery 37,837 
			 (h) Paediatric surgery Paediatric Surgery 9,553 
			 (i) Maxillo facial surgery Maxillo Facial Surgery 9,003 
			 (j) Oral surgery Oral Surgery 10,877 
			 (k) Surgical dentistry Orthodontics, Restorative and Paediatric Dentistry 106 
			 (l) Vascular surgery Vascular Surgery 17,253 
			 1 Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2 Consultant Treatment Specialty The specialty under which the consultant responsible for care of the patient is working, which may be different to the specialty under which the consultant is registered. Care is needed when analysing HES data by specialty, or by groups of specialties (such as "acute"). Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other recorded information. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Count of finished consultant episodes1 with a main procedure or intervention by activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Admission Method Finished Consultant Episodes 
			 Elective 7,270,039 
			 Emergency 2,425,673 
			 Other 899,102 
			 1 Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

USA

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 530W, on USA, what study trips to America officials from (a) his Department and (b) NHS London undertook in 2008.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC Trust

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will discuss the issue of political impartiality at the BBC with the BBC Trust.

Edward Vaizey: There are no plans to discuss the issue of political impartiality with the BBC Trust. As set out in the BBC's Charter and Agreement, the BBC is bound by strict rules on political impartiality in its content and coverage, and it is for the BBC Trust to hold the Executive to account for its performance in this area. One of the ways in which the Trust assesses impartiality is by commissioning reviews of certain subject areas, which are available here:
	http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/our_work/editorial_standards/impartiality.html

BBC: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will discuss with the BBC Trust the financial effect of BBC network commissions on (a) BBC Scotland and (b) the wider economy in Scotland in the last five years.

Edward Vaizey: There are no plans to discuss the financial effect of BBC network commissions on BBC Scotland and the wider economy in Scotland with the BBC Trust. However, in July this year the BBC published “The BBC in Scotland” which includes information on network production and commissioning in Scotland; this report can be accessed here:
	http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/howwework/policiesandguidelines/pdf/bbc_policy_ the_bbc_in_scotland.pdf
	Furthermore, the BBC Executive published a report in January on the economic value of the BBC, which can be accessed at:
	http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/howwework/reports/bbc_economic_impact_2013.html

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the £10 million fund announced in the Autumn Statement will test innovative solutions for delivering superfast broadband services; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The £10 million funding will be used to market test areas that suppliers and local bodies identified during BDUK's stakeholder engagement exercise as those that could assist in providing solutions in commercially challenging locations. These include a range of options being brought forward by various potential providers.

Broadband

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average broadband speed is in (a) the UK, (b) the City of Bristol and (c) Bristol North West constituency.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom's Infrastructure Report 2013 reported that average fixed broadband speeds (as measured at the customer modem) in the City of Bristol were 24.5 Mbit/s compared with 17.7 Mbit/s across the UK. Data are not collected on a constituency basis.

Culture: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the regional distribution of capital for culture projects across England.

Edward Vaizey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 December 2013, Official Report, column 669W.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 November 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr E. Warne.

Helen Grant: I replied to the right hon. Member on 23 December.

Mobile Phones: Regulation

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to bring forward proposals to change the regulation of the mobile telephone sector.

Edward Vaizey: ‘Connectivity, Consumers and Content’, published in July 2013, contains a number of policy proposals that would entail regulatory changes affecting the communications sector, including the mobile network operators. The Government has also made it clear that it wants to see an end to mobile roaming charges within the EU by 2016, which would require regulatory change.

Museums and Galleries

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria her Department has set for a museum to become a national museum funded by direct grant-in-aid from her Department.

Edward Vaizey: The national museums and galleries directly funded by DCMS are governed by primary legislation.

National Lottery

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the national lottery has disbursed funds to community groups based outside the UK in any of the last 10 years, other than for the purpose of meeting international development priorities.

Helen Grant: In the last 10 years, national lottery distributors have awarded 739 grants that are classified as “overseas grants” in the lottery grants database (from a total of over 262,000 in the same period and representing 1% of the total value of grants). Lottery distributors make their funding decisions independently of Government and against their published criteria for their individual funding programmes. Overseas grants are defined as those made to projects located in and benefiting organisations or individuals working or living in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and all countries outside the United Kingdom. The full list of overseas grant can be obtained from the lottery grants database at:
	http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/AdvancedSearch.aspx

Olympic Games: Russia

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which ministers will be attending the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games in an official capacity.

Helen Grant: We cannot confirm ministerial attendance at this stage. We will finalise plans in the new year on how we support Team GB and ParalympicsGB at the Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sports: Young People

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what specific targets her Department has set for increasing sports participation rates amongst young people; and what recent assessment she has made of progress in achieving those targets.

Helen Grant: Sport England is investing almost £500 million in 46 sport's national governing bodies and around 60% of this will be spent on initiatives targeting young people. Specific targets for young people have been agreed with each NGB. Sport England is also running programmes specifically targeting young people, such as Sportivate, which has given almost 300,000 young people the opportunity to take up a new sport over the last two years. 1,500 satellite clubs are being set up across England to reduce the number of young people who stop playing sport after leaving school.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Flood Control

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Environment Agency staff were employed to help maintain waterways to reduce flooding risk in each of the last three years.

Dan Rogerson: The number of staff employed directly by the Environment Agency to help maintain waterways to reduce flood risk in each of the last three years was:
	
		
			  Number of staff 
			  1,931 
			  1,678 
			 2013-14 (to Q2) 1,688 
		
	
	In addition, the Environment Agency employs staff in business support service roles such as finance, legal, procurement, and human resources that support specialist flood and coastal risk management staff.

Flood Control

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Environment Agency staff were employed in flood alleviation works in each of the last three years.

Dan Rogerson: The number of staff employed directly by the Environment Agency in flood alleviation works in each of the last three years was:
	
		
			  Number of staff 
			 2011-12 3,099 
			 2012-13 3,169 
			 2013-14 (to Q2) 2,997 
		
	
	In addition, the Environment Agency employs staff in business support service roles such as finance, legal, procurement, and human resources that support specialist flood and coastal risk management staff.

Floods: Insurance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many formal responses his Department received to its flood insurance consultation.

Dan Rogerson: There were 149 responses received to the flood insurance consultation, which was launched on 27 June 2013 and closed on 8 August 2013.

Food Banks

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with retailers about the supply of food for food banks.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA hosted a roundtable discussion with major retailers and food redistribution charities in 2012. As a result, retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, charities and other industry bodies joined forces to support ways to increase the amount of surplus food that can be made available to those in need. The redistribution industry working group led by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has been working towards adopting guiding principles which will help industry prioritise redistribution of surplus food for human consumption. WRAP plans to publish its guidance and case studies in the new year.

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what proportion of the £397,000 lost wages to workers identified in Gangmasters' Licensing Authority operations 2012-13 has been recovered to date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many workers subjected to exploitation identified in Gangmasters' Licensing Authority operations 2012-13 have received compensation; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: In 2012-13 the GLA's investigations identified £397,000 in lost wages, through unpaid holiday pay and failure to pay the minimum wage. Although such non-payment and underpayment breaches the GLA's licensing standards, and may lead to revocation of licences, the GLA can only advise the employer to repay the money to the affected workers as the GLA does not have the power to recover any arrears of pay on behalf of workers. Where it does identify breaches of minimum wage legislation the GLA notifies the national minimum wage inspectorate (NMWI) which may investigate the matter further.
	Therefore, it does not record numbers of workers whose exploitation it may have identified who subsequently seek compensation under civil law. A recent criminal investigation resulted in the court ordering the offender to pay compensation amounting to £57,801. The order was made in August 2013 and allowed the offender three years to make payment.
	The GLA continues to pursue criminals who seek to exploit workers and a number of recent high profile joint operations with the police and others illustrates the success of these efforts. Where investigations lead to a successful prosecution the authority will seek redress for the victims of criminal gangmasters through the imposition of compensation orders and to deprive those gangmasters of the financial benefits of their criminal activity using the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Land: Contamination

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed withdrawal of the Contaminated Land Capital Grants scheme on local authorities' ability to meet their statutory duty to identify contaminated land and to ensure its remediation; and if he will publish (a) that assessment and (b) the results of his consultation with local authorities on that proposal.

George Eustice: Funding to support local authorities in fulfilling their statutory obligations under part 2A of the 1990 Environmental Protection Act remains in the form of the Revenue Support Grant. An assessment of the impact on local authorities by the withdrawal of the Contaminated Land Capital Grants Scheme has therefore not been undertaken. The need for an impact assessment will be reviewed 12 months after the full grant scheme funding is withdrawn in April 2014.
	DEFRA has also commissioned a new State of Contaminated Land survey which will collect information on regulatory activity under part 2A, the apportioning of liability, and funding mechanisms used for contaminated land identification and remediation. The report will be produced by the Environment Agency in 2014.

Natural England

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the criteria used in the shortlisting and selection of candidates for the chairmanship of Natural England were; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: The essential criteria used in the shortlisting and selection of candidates for the Chairman of Natural England were:
	1. An understanding of how the rural environment can contribute to a range of Government priorities, particularly the successful growth of the rural economy;
	2. Significant commercial acumen and working with organisations undergoing substantial change, including a proven track record at a senior level in the private or public sector in a comparable organisation;
	3. A strong vision and capacity to lead and represent Natural England, giving a clear sense of overall strategic direction and purpose;
	4. Building a strong team culture and creating consensus around practical solutions both within the Board and in the way the wider organisation does business;
	5. Experience of delivering a top quality service to customers and of building strong networks and collaborating with key partners; and
	6. An understanding of the complementary roles of chairman and chief executive and of working effectively in this relationship to the benefit of the strategic goals of the organisation.
	The recruitment process for the Chairman of Natural England has been carried out in accordance with the 'Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies' published by the Commissioner for Public Bodies.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Gordon Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of the fishery protection fleet in each year to 2016-17; and what share of that cost will be incurred in Scotland.

George Eustice: The Royal Navy is responsible for the cost of the fisheries protection fleet. The Marine Management Organisation makes a contribution to these costs and has entered into a formal agreement with the Royal Navy to provide inspection and surveillance of fishing activity at sea. The current agreement commenced on 1 April 2013 and runs until 31 March 2016. The baseline financial payment for these services is £2 million per annum.
	Fisheries enforcement is a devolved matter. The costs associated with fisheries protection in Scotland are met by the Scottish Government.

TREASURY

Capital Allowances: Farms

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislative proposals in the Finance Bill to provide that any farm-based reservoir forming part of a wider irrigation system is treated as part of the farm for capital allowance purposes.

David Gauke: The Government keeps all tax policy under review. Any changes to tax policy are announced by the Chancellor at the Budget or at autumn statement.

Celtic Football Club

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate reports that the Co-operative Bank provided exceptionally low interest rate loans and overdraft facilities to Celtic Football Club.

Sajid Javid: holding answer 19 December 2013
	Individual commercial loans are a matter for agreement between the parties concerned.
	The Government has announced its intention to order an investigation into events at the Co-operative Bank and the circumstances surrounding them, under powers in the Financial Services Act 2012. The investigation will be led by an independent person. It will not begin and its detailed scope will not be confirmed until it is clear that it will not prejudice any actions the relevant authorities may take.

Child Care Tax Credit

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many households receiving childcare tax credits have at least one worker earning under (a) £10,000, (b) £10,500, (c) £11,000 and (d) £12,000 per year;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of households with at least one earner with an income of less than £10,000 who receive childcare tax credit.

Nicky Morgan: Tax credit awards are based on total household income. HMRC provisional tax credits statistics do not provide counts of families who are in receipt of the child care element of WTC within specific individual income brackets.

Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 in reducing the exposure to liabilities from private sector financiers and funds of countries experiencing the aftermath of sovereign debt crises;
	(2)  if he will take further steps to promote responsible lending and borrowing internationally by private sector financiers and funds operating under contracts drawn up under domestic law in the UK.

Sajid Javid: The impact assessment for the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010 indicates direct benefits to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) of between zero and £26 million a year. The Government's decision to make the Act permanent on 25 May 2011 was taken following consultation with relevant stakeholders; evidence from that exercise suggested that the Act had some benefit on HIPCs and no evidence was found of unintended or adverse effects.
	The UK continues to be at the forefront of international efforts to promote responsible lending and borrowing practices, including our ongoing support for the IMF/World Bank Debt Sustainability Framework and OECD lending principles covering official export credits. The UK also supports the World Bank's debt reduction facility, which enables countries to buy back their commercial debt at a deep discount with donor backing, and the African Legal Support Facility, which provides legal advice to countries facing litigation.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce the rural fuel duty discount for those independent fuel stations having a rateable value below £50,000.

Danny Alexander: The current rural fuel rebate scheme applies to the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, the Islands of the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly. It recognises the fact that pump prices on the islands are particularly high when compared with the UK average, due to the cost of transporting and distributing fuel in the isolated communities. Any extension of the scheme would look to provide support to motorists in other remote areas of the UK that experience high pump prices for similar reasons.
	All petrol filling stations in England with a rateable value below £50,000 will be eligible for a £1,000 discount on their business rates bills up to state aid limits from 1 April 2014 for two years.

Financial Services

Richard Harrington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on plans to compensate non-sophisticated customers mis-sold interest rate hedging products by RBS and Natwest; and whether financial institutions will be penalised by the Financial Conduct Authority if this process is not completed by the May 2014 deadline.

Sajid Javid: The Financial Conduct Authority publishes monthly progress reports on the redress scheme for the mis-selling of interest rate hedging products. These reports show the progress made by each of the largest banks, including RBS.
	On 6 December, the Financial Conduct Authority published each individual bank's projections for when they expect to finish the redress scheme. The projections show that the banks expect to finish reviewing all cases by June 2014, with some banks likely to complete the scheme before this date.

Government Securities

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all current guarantees.

Nicky Morgan: This information is not held centrally. Managing public money requires Departments to report all outstanding single contingent liabilities, or schemes of liabilities, in their accounts unless they are confidential. Many arm’s length bodies follow the same standard.

Meetings

Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he had with (a) Sir Howard Davies, (b) the Secretary of State for Transport and (c) the Mayor of London between 9 and 17 December 2013; whether a minute was kept of any such meetings; and if he will publish any minutes.

Nicky Morgan: Treasury Ministers regularly meet with Ministers in other Departments as part of normal Government business. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.
	Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
	The Airports Commission also publish regular lists of meetings with stakeholders, including Government. This is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airports-commission-meetings-with-stakeholders

Minimum Wage

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2013, Official Report, column 465W, on minimum wage, how many people were paid below the minimum wage in the most recent period for which figures are available in each region.

David Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously and HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where we identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.
	HMRC does not capture complaints or the outcomes of its investigations by reference to Government regions or country. Its management information relates to the work of teams who are multi-located. Because HMRC resources to risk, work relating to a specific geographical area is not always done by the NMW team based in that area.

National Insurance Contributions

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer was for each year of the regional employers NICs holiday scheme.

David Gauke: The latest available data show that around £60 million of NICs relief has been received by employers in total.
	This figure can be broadly broken down by year as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2010-11 8 
			 2011-12 29 
			 2012-13 23 
		
	
	This does not include 2013-14 tax year. The claims are reported at the end of year the tax year, but can relate to a previous period.

Non-domestic Rates

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 436W, on non-domestic rates, what estimate he has made of how many of the 300,000 retail premises in England that he estimates will benefit from the business rates discount of up to £1,000 will benefit (a) in full and (b) in part.

David Gauke: No breakdown has been made by the Treasury of how many of the 300,000 retail premises in England that will benefit from the £1,000 business rates discount will benefit (a) in full and (b) in part.

Railways: Fares

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will fund the Mayor of London's decision to limit 2014 season ticket price rises to RPI+0.

Nicky Morgan: The Mayor of London decided to cap Transport for London fare increases to an average of RPI+0 for the 2014 calendar year. Decisions by the Mayor of London regarding London transport fares, and the funding of those decisions, are a matter for the Mayor of London.

Railways: Fares

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with Transport for London and the office of the Mayor of London before the announcement in the Autumn Statement that the average increase in regulated rail fares will be capped at RPI in 2014.

Nicky Morgan: The Treasury Ministers regularly meet with the Mayor of London as part of normal Government business. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Secondment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's civil servants have been seconded to (a) the private sector and (b) trades unions in each year since 2010.

Nicky Morgan: The information is as follows:
	In 2010
	(a) two Treasury civil servants were seconded to the private sector
	(b) no Treasury civil servants were seconded to the trade unions
	In 2011
	(a) four Treasury civil servants were seconded to the private sector
	(b) no Treasury civil servants were seconded to the trade unions
	In 2012
	(a) two Treasury civil servants were seconded to the private sector
	(b) no Treasury civil servants were seconded to the trade unions

Social Security Benefits

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of welfare savings needed in 2016-17 and 2017-18 to ensure that the rate of reduction in departmental expenditure limits is maintained at the same level as over this Parliament.

Nicky Morgan: Following the spending round and in line with previous policy, total managed expenditure in 2016-17 and 2017-18 will continue to fall in real terms at the same rate as over this Parliament. On the basis of the latest autumn statement fiscal forecast, savings of around £12 billion per year by 2017-18 would be needed from elements of AME—such as welfare spending—to ensure that real departmental budgets are not cut more steeply than over this Parliament.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Gordon Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual cost to the public purse is of (a) diplomatic missions around the world and (b) the UK's membership of the UN and international bodies; if he will estimate the pro-rata allocation of those costs for Scotland in 2016-17; what the Scottish Government estimates those costs will be in 2016-17; and if he will estimate the potential cost to Scotland of setting up and staffing new diplomatic missions.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	The annual budget for the UK's diplomatic network was £1.6 billion for the financial year 2012-13.
	The UK's contributions to the UN regular budget, peacekeeping budgets, and tribunal costs were £94,265,716, £321,912,044 and £10,165,031 respectively for the financial year 2012-13.
	Records of contributions to UN specialised agencies and the numerous other international bodies of which the UK is a member are not held centrally and this information could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
	In advance of the next spending round, it is not possible to estimate what the FCO's budget allocation will be for 2016-17, nor is it possible to assess accurately in advance what the UK's share of the UN budget and peacekeeping costs will be in 2016-17.
	The Government intends to publish, in due course, material relating to potential contributions to international bodies by an independent Scotland as part of the Scotland analysts programme, which is examining how Scotland contributes to, and benefits from, being part of the UK.
	The Scottish Government's White Paper published in November 2013 suggests that an independent Scotland would have an overseas network of 70 to 90 international offices, with initial running costs estimated at £90 million to £120 million. The White Paper contains no estimate for the costs an independent Scotland would incur to set up and staff new diplomatic missions.
	The White Paper does not contain information on the implications of the loss of international presence for citizens and businesses based in Scotland. The UK diplomatic and consular network employs over 14,000 people in 267 embassies, high commissions and consulates in 154 countries and 12 Overseas Territories, with an extensive UK Trade and Investment network of 169 offices in over 100 countries. The network represents citizens and businesses in all parts of the UK, including Scotland. The Scottish Government's proposal would represent a very substantial scaling back in overseas presence.

Taxation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all current statutory levies.

Nicky Morgan: This information is not held centrally.

Taxation: Gaming Machines

Sarah Champion: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the tax yield has been from (a) fixed odds betting terminals and (b) category (i) B1, (ii) B2, (iii) B3, (iv) B3A and (v) B4 gaming machines in each year since 2010-11;
	(2)  what the tax yield has been from (a) fixed odds betting terminals and (b) category (i) B1, (ii) B2, (iii) B3, (iv) B3A and (v) B4 gaming machines since they became liable to machine games duty in February 2013.

David Gauke: For the period in which gaming machines were subject to Amusement Machine Licence Duty, the requested information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	Since the introduction of Machine Games Duty (MGD) the requested information is not available as the MGD return does not contain the necessary information to break down tax receipts in this way.

Taxation: Gaming Machines

Sarah Champion: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the expected tax yield from (a) fixed odds betting terminals and (b) category (i) B1, (ii) B2, (iii) B3, (iv) B3A and (v) B4 gaming machines in each year from 2013-14 to 2017-18.

David Gauke: Revenue forecasts for betting and gaming duties were published in Table 2.1 of the OBR's December 2013 Economic and Fiscal Outlook Fiscal Supplementary Tables, at the following link:
	http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/wordpress/docs/December-2013-EFO-Fiscal-Supplementary-Tables1.xls
	Disaggregated estimates for individual duties within the overall revenue forecast for betting and gaming duties are not available.

Universal Credit

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent in preparation for the implementation of universal credit to date.

Nicky Morgan: HMRC costs as a direct consequence of supporting the delivery of universal credit are £15.9 million for 2012-13.
	HMRC continues to review the cost of supporting the delivery of universal credit in line with the development of the DWP universal credit roll-out plans.

Universal Credit

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of HM Revenue and Customs are working on the implementation of universal credit.

Nicky Morgan: The number of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) full-time equivalent employees working on the implementation of universal credit in November 2013 is 138.5.
	HMRC continues to review the resource it requires to support the delivery of universal credit in line with the universal credit roll-out plans.

VAT

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on small businesses of the imposition of VAT surcharges for periods during which those businesses were given time to pay; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Since November 2008 businesses have been able to contact a dedicated Business Payment Support Line within HM Revenue and Customs to arrange the payment of tax by instalments and avoid surcharges and penalties altogether. Surcharges and penalties are not charged if the taxpayer contacts HMRC before the payment is due, HMRC agree a time to pay arrangement, and the taxpayer keeps to the agreement. Information is not readily available on VAT surcharges issued to taxpayers who have contacted HMRC and agreed time to pay after the tax became due or who have failed to keep to a time to pay agreement.

Welfare Tax Credits: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children needed tax credits to escape low income in (a) April 2010 and (b) the latest period for which figures are available.

Nicky Morgan: I refer to the National Statistics Publications "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics" for 2010 and 2013.
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/prov-main-stats/cwtc-apr10.xls
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/prov-main-stats/cwtc-apr13.xls

Written Questions: Government Responses

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to question 177784, tabled by the hon. Member for Manchester Central on 26 November 2013 for answer on 28 November 2013.

Nicky Morgan: I have done so today.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of people advanced a learner loan in order to undertake an apprenticeship.

Matthew Hancock: 24+ Advanced Learning Loans are working well for classroom based further education. However, it is clear from application data that there is a lower level of FE engagement from employers and learners in loans for apprenticeships. We are currently reviewing the position on apprenticeships in light of this data, and will provide details shortly.

Business: Government Assistance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to reduce the proliferation of business support schemes at a local level; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: The GREAT Business website highlights support for businesses aspiring to succeed and encourages an entrepreneurial spirit; it contains links to support, advice and guidance that will help businesses to grow. At a local level, we are simplifying business support by supporting the development of Growth Hubs—a single place businesses can go to, to get help. This will improve the co-ordination of support provided by public and private sector partners, creating a more streamlined and coherent offer for businesses, based around local needs. Where Government provides funding for Growth Hubs, it will be conditional on them removing duplication and closing underperforming local schemes.

Business: Government Assistance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on each Solutions for Business product in financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13.

Michael Fallon: The Solutions for Business brand no longer exists but all Government funded business support schemes are accessible via the Business Finance and Support Finder tool on gov.uk.
	Within Small Business: Great Ambition, published in December 2013, we have also given a commitment to undertake a rapid review of all existing national Government business support products and services. This will identify those that are poorly targeted or underperforming and where we can bring schemes together to deliver a better, more efficient service. This will start in early 2014, with the first schemes to be simplified and rationalised announced in the Budget, and with a rolling programme of improvements continuing to March 2015.
	The figures for each of the products under the previous Solutions for Business portfolio will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Companies: Ownership

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how often the beneficial ownership register will be updated; and how the information on that register will be verified;
	(2)  what level of detail and what identifiable information will be required for the beneficial ownership register;
	(3)  what the penalties will be for companies that do not comply with the beneficial ownership register;
	(4)  in what format the information on the beneficial ownership register will be available.

Jennifer Willott: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published the “Transparency and Trust” discussion paper in July 2013. In it, we sought views on a range of questions relating to implementation of the central registry of company beneficial ownership information, including the information to be provided to the registry and how often it should be updated. In line with other information held by Companies House, it is our intention that beneficial ownership information in the registry will be made available digitally, in machine-readable format. We will also ensure that we put in place robust statutory measures to tackle companies and individuals that break the rules. We are carefully considering the responses received to the discussion paper and will respond fully in early 2014.

Consumers: Protection

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what new steps he is taking to improve consumer protection.

Jennifer Willott: The Government has undertaken major reform to improve consumer protection. Its reforms to the consumer landscape are designed to support growth, improve consumer protection and give greater clarity about where consumers can turn for help and advice. The Government is also better equipping trading standards to enhance consumer law enforcement.
	In June the Government published the draft Consumer Rights Bill. The Bill will streamline key consumer rights covering business to consumer contracts for goods, services, digital content and the law relating to unfair terms in consumer contracts into one place. These reforms are designed to enhance consumer rights and reduce costs for business by making it clearer what should happen and when problems arise. The Bill is also proposing to give public enforcers such as Trading Standards greater flexibility to get the best outcome for consumers when they have been the victims of a breach of consumer legislation, including redress when they have suffered loss.

Employment Agencies: Corby

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what enforcement action has been taken following the visit by HM Revenue and Customs and officers from his Department to employment agencies in the Corby area between 28 and 30 May 2013; how many fines have been issued; whether any legal proceedings are completed or pending; how much money has been recovered and returned; how many follow up visits have taken place; and if he will publish a report of the joint task force of his Department and HM Revenue and Customs.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The Government takes the enforcement of NMW very seriously. In addition to reviewing every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline, HMRC carry out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW.
	HMRC national minimum wage officers, working alongside Employment Agency Standards colleagues, visited 34 employment agencies trading within Corby and its surrounding area between 28 and 30 May 2013.
	Initial investigations by HMRC identified 12 agencies where there was potential underpayment of the national minimum wage. HMRC is bound by a duty of confidentiality to taxpayers and I cannot therefore make any comment on any ongoing, planned or anticipated legal proceedings.
	To date, two of the 12 investigations have been concluded resulting in arrears of wages totalling £3,154 owed to 291 workers. The employers received automatic penalty charges totalling £1,532 as opposed to fines. Investigations at a further five agencies are ongoing, with early indications suggesting potential arrears of wages totalling £120,000 payable to over 3,500 workers that would give rise to the employers being charged penalties totalling £15,000. HMRC contacts every employer whom they find has paid workers below the national minimum wage to confirm that they have paid the identified arrears to the workers. In addition, where it has found arrears for five or fewer workers it will contact all the workers to confirm payment by the employer. In cases involving arrears for more than five workers it will contact a minimum sample of five workers to confirm payment by the employer.

Energy: Industry

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to secure state aid approval from the European Commission so that compensation can be provided to domestic energy-intensive industries threatened by the introduction of the carbon floor price.

Michael Fallon: We have had extensive engagement with the European Commission on the state aid case and are awaiting a response from the Commission on our recent submission. Dependent on their response, we expect to submit our formal notification early in 2014.

Energy: Industry

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the timeline is for securing state aid approval from the European Commission for compensation for energy-intensive industries affected by the carbon floor price; and whether compensation will be back dated to April 2013 when the carbon floor price entered into force.

Michael Fallon: The UK Government pre-notified the European Commission of its intention to compensate energy intensive industries for the indirect costs of the carbon price floor in September 2012. We received comments earlier this year and are awaiting a response from the Commission on our recent submission. Dependent on their response we expect to submit our formal notification early in the new year. While it is not possible to absolutely determine the outcome, from discussions at senior and commissioner level it is hopeful that we will receive approval by the end of the financial year. Given the impact the Commission's delay is having on business, we are pursuing the issue of backdating with the Commission. We want the Decision, when it comes, to enable EIIs to claim back-payment of the compensation to April 2013 when the CPF scheme came into force, but the final decision on this rests with the European Commission.

Energy: Industry

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to provide energy-intensive industries with greater long-term certainty by confirming that compensation for costs associated with the carbon floor price will be provided for the duration of the policy and will increase commensurately as costs increase.

Michael Fallon: The package of support we are putting in place is intended to provide support to energy intensive industries as we make the transition to a greener economy. We announced at Budget 2013 that compensation for the carbon price floor will continue in 2015-16. Government will make further decisions at future spending reviews, examining the need for on-going support and taking into account affordability and value for money, and the impacts of EMR which will be implemented by 2017.

Financial Institutions

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to establish an independent inquiry to look at practices of other financial institutions in response to the Tomlinson report on the lending practices of banks.

Matthew Hancock: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced on 29 October 2013 that an independent skilled person will be appointed under section 166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to review allegations about RBS's treatment of customers in financial distress. This followed the FCA's consideration of reports published by Sir Andrew Large into lending practices at the Royal Bank of Scotland and, separately, by Lawrence Tomlinson. It announced at the same time that it was writing to the other banks seeking confirmation that they are satisfied they do not engage in any of the poor practices that have been alleged in the reports, and setting out an expectation that any poor practices identified will be addressed. The FCA intends to discuss the findings and the basis for them with each of the banks.

Post Offices

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2013, Official Report, column 245W, on the post office, whether any Crown post offices not proposed for closure or sale have a cost generator ratio greater than £1.61.

Jennifer Willott: In the financial year ending 31 March 2013, the 373 'Crown' branches that are directly operated by Post Office Ltd collectively made a loss of £37 million. These are the largest town and city branches, and no business, including the Post Office, can continue with a situation where some of its high street branches cost substantially more to run than they bring in.
	This is not a sustainable position, and in return for public funding to maintain a wider Post Office network of at least 11,500 branches that continues to meet the strict Government-set access criteria and deliver a vitally important social role, Post Office Ltd has committed to eliminate these Crown losses by March 2015.
	As my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) explained on 11 December 2013, Post Office Ltd has identified 70 Crown branches where it sees no prospect of eliminating the branch losses-including Rhyl. In these locations, Post Office Ltd is seeking a suitable franchise partner within the community to provide continued access to services, and there will be no loss of Post Office services within the community.
	In deciding which branches to seek franchise partners for, there are a number of factors that will have informed Post Office Ltd's decision. This decision process is both operational and a commercially sensitive matter for the company, and the Government plays no role.

Post Offices

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department is doing to ensure that small business customers and third sector organisations do not suffer as a result of Post Office bank branch closures; and if he will make a statement.

Jennifer Willott: There will be no Post Office closure programme under this Government, which is committing £1.975 billion over the period 2011-18 to maintain a Post Office network of at least 11,500 branches, and to provide for its modernisation.
	Nearly all small and medium-sized enterprises use their Post Office at least once a year, and a third visit on a weekly basis. The Post Office offers secure, over-the-counter access to business banking services on behalf of a number of banks. Further details are available via the Post Office website:
	http://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-business-banking

Skills Funding Agency

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many voluntary sector organisations were registered providers with the Skills Funding Agency in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency is responsible for all matters concerning the operations of the Skills Funding Agency. I have therefore asked Barbara Spicer, the interim chief executive, to reply to the right hon. Member direct and a copy of her letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Trading Standards

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received in respect of Trading Standards and Carhire UK;
	(2)  what measures are in place to ensure customer redress in circumstances where Trading Standards has failed;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the powers that Trading Standards has to protect consumers;
	(4)  what mechanisms are in place to resolve consumer conflicts in circumstances when Trading Standards is not effective;
	(5)  what he is doing to improve the competence of Trading Standards;
	(6)  how many complaints he has received on the performance of Trading Standards.

Jennifer Willott: This Department is not aware of any representations in respect of Trading Standards and Carhire UK. This Department is, however, aware that East Sussex Trading Standards have secured an undertaking from car-hire-UK.com (the trading name of the company) under the Enterprise Act 2002 to ensure the company and its Directors comply with the law in the future. The undertaking contains a penal notice so that any future breach could result committal proceedings to prison. Trading Standards are monitoring complaints in order to take action should there be a breach of the undertaking.
	Trading Standards enforce a wide range of consumer protection legislation, such as measures to tackle unfair trading; breaches of which can attract a fine and/or imprisonment. Following a review in 2011 of the consumer landscape, changes were made to the enforcement regime to give Trading Standards greater responsibility for tackling cross-boundary threats and cases of national significance, coordinated through the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB). This position was clarified further through the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.
	In March 2012, the Government consulted on further proposals to introduce a generic set of investigatory powers for consumer law enforcers in the draft Consumer Rights Bill. We are also using this Bill to clarify the law to enable Trading Standards to tackle rogue traders who operate across local authority boundaries and help support the NTSB's coordination role.
	The Trading Standards Institute, as the professional body for Trading Standards Officers, has a comprehensive approach to professional training and on-going professional development which local authorities can use as a benchmark. We know that businesses value well trained and competent Trading Standards Officers who are able to provide them high quality regulatory advice and to be able tackle rogue traders. However, Government agrees with the Local Government Association which said that
	“councils are best placed to determine the competency of their officers.”
	Also regulators such as Trading Standards will be required to have regard to the Government's recently published statutory Regulators' Code, which is subject to parliamentary approval. This code requires regulators to ensure their officers have the necessary knowledge and skills to support those they regulate to enable enforcers to choose proportionate and effective approaches.
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), does not deal with complaints about trading standards. Local authorities are responsible for the delivery and performance of local trading standards services. Complainants about the activities of a Trading Standards Service are, therefore, directed to the chief executive of the local authority in line with their own published complaints procedures. If the complainant remains dissatisfied they can then refer the matter to the local government ombudsman.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative is implemented in Afghanistan.

Hugh Robertson: We were pleased that Afghanistan is one of the 138 countries that have so far endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict launched by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), at the UN in September. We will encourage them to attend the June 2014 summit and work with them in advance to identify how they can implement the commitments the Declaration contains.
	Through the FCO Human Rights and Democracy Programme Fund, we are supporting a one-year project to address the psychological needs of victims of sexual harassment and violence, support state institutions to improve their response to victims, and raise awareness of the threats women face in Afghanistan. The UK has committed to providing £7 million to support women's political participation. A new £3 million programme has also been agreed to address the root causes of violence against women and girls. The programme will work to strengthen the justice sectors for women victims of violence, as well as outreach work and support to male religious leaders, educators and Afghan women working to raise awareness of women's issues.

Afghanistan

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Afghan Government on recent incidents of violence against female politicians in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Afghan Government on recent incidents of violence against female professionals in Afghanistan as they participate in everyday working life.

Hugh Robertson: At the Tokyo Development conference last year, the Afghan Government made a pledge to ensure that the human rights of all Afghan people, including women, are protected and promoted, as enshrined in article 22 of their constitution. We, along with our international partners, regularly discuss progress against commitments made at the Tokyo conference, including on the full implementation of the elimination of violence against women law, with the Afghan Government and will continue to do so with the new Government following elections next year.
	We regularly raise the protection and promotion of women’s rights and the security of women in all aspects of society, including those in public life, with the Afghan Government and wider Afghan authorities. During her visit to Afghanistan early last month, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi discussed these, and many other issues, with female politicians and civil society representatives. She also underlined the importance of upholding historic gains on human rights with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Ershad Ahmadi. We work closely with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, the UN, Afghan civil society and international partners to support women’s issues and human rights defenders. We discussed support to human rights defenders at the EU Human Rights and Gender Working Group meetings in November and December, and will continue to do so this year.
	Ultimately, it is for the Afghan state to provide security for all its citizens. In June, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), supported by the international community, took the lead responsibility for the security of all Afghan citizens. The UK will contribute £70 million per year from 2015 to help sustain the ANSF. The UK Government is in continuous discussion with the Afghan Government and International Security Afghanistan Forces counterparts, including the US, at all levels on the security situation in Afghanistan to support close co-operation on this vital issue.

Afghanistan

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department has made in ensuring that women in Afghanistan are protected as they participate in their everyday professional working life.

Hugh Robertson: Afghan women are increasingly playing an important role in public life in Afghanistan. There are now nine female members of the High Peace Council, more than a quarter of seats in Parliament are held by women, there are reserved seats for women in Provincial Councils, and there is an ever-growing network of women’s NGOs and advocacy groups across Afghanistan. In November, during a visit to Afghanistan, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi underlined the importance of upholding this progress with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Ershad Ahmadi.
	The UK is working to educate women in Afghanistan and has contributed £45 million to the Global Girls Education Challenge Fund. This is helping to educate marginalised girls in Afghanistan. There are now 2 million who can now grow up and join the work force. It is vital to educate Afghan society about women’s rights, as a greater awareness will help reduce violence against women at home and in the workplace. UK funded organisations like the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) are working to institutionalise an understanding of human rights in educational centres so that children grow up valuing human rights, helping to combat deeply-embedded traditional conservative values. The Department for International Development funds organisations and projects focused on women, to raise awareness of women’s rights and provide legal support. Women progressively feel more able to speak out when threatened with or subject to violence and are supporting the mechanisms in place to deal with their complaints.
	In our work with Afghan ministries and institutions, we continue to mainstream gender issues. We are increasing the awareness and accountability of Afghan police on the protection of women’s rights so they are better protected during everyday life. We are ensuring that women are included in the security forces by providing training for female officer recruits at Afghanistan’s National Officer Academy. We remain committed to improving female political participation and representation in public life. My hon. colleague the Minister for International Development recently announced a £7.5 million programme to political institutions and process that will build the capacity of women and provincial councillors once elected into office. This is in addition to support for the 2014 and 2015 elections in which we will provide assistance to the Independent Election Commission’s gender unit and improving voter education among women and other marginalized groups.
	The position of women in Afghan society has improved over the past 10 years, but this progress is fragile. We must not lose the momentum in the months and years beyond the security and political transition of 2014 and we will continue to push for progress for women in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in member states on women’s rights in Afghanistan; and what such discussions he has had on recent incidents of violence against women on the grounds of their professions as politicians, teachers and doctors.

Hugh Robertson: At the Tokyo Development conference last year, the Afghan Government made a pledge to ensure that the human rights of all Afghan people, including women, are protected and promoted, as enshrined in article 22 of their constitution. We, along with our international partners, discuss progress against commitments made at the Tokyo conference, including on the full implementation of the elimination of violence against women law, with the Afghan Government and will continue to do so with the new Government following elections next year.
	We regularly raise the protection and promotion of women’s rights and the security of women in all aspects of society, including those in public life, with the Afghan Government and wider Afghan authorities. During her visit to Afghanistan early last month, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi discussed women’s issues with female politicians, and underlined the importance of upholding historic gains on human rights with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Ershad Ahmadi. We work closely with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, the UN, Afghan civil society and international partners to support women’s issues and human rights defenders. We discussed support to human rights defenders at the EU Human Rights and Gender Working Group meetings in November and December, and will continue to do so this year.
	Ultimately, it is for the Afghan state to provide security for all its citizens. In June, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), supported by the international community, took the lead responsibility for the security of all Afghan citizens. The UK will contribute £70 million per year from 2015 to help sustain the ANSF. The British Government is in continuous discussion with the Afghan Government and International Security Afghanistan Forces counterparts, including the US, at all levels on the security situation in Afghanistan to support close co-operation on this vital issue.

Afghanistan

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Afghan counterpart about the impeachment of ministers by the Afghan Parliament.

Hugh Robertson: The use of the power to impeach Ministers, as set out in the Afghan constitution, is a matter for the Afghan Parliament to decide. It is not an issue that the UK has raised with the Afghan Government.

Afghanistan

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to protect female human rights defenders in Afghanistan; and what consideration he has given to a country-specific plan for Afghanistan in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders in Afghanistan.

Hugh Robertson: International support to human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, is most effective when coordinated through multilateral institutions such as the EU and in particular the UN. These bodies have the expertise and resources to fulfil this important role in country. The UK's approach is to work with and through these institutions to support national efforts. We therefore believe that a UK action plan in isolation, would risk duplicating established mechanisms and strategies, and would add little additional value to our existing work to support human rights defenders in Afghanistan.
	We are providing £500,000 this year to support the work of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission to help it act to protect human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders. We also work closely with the UN, Afghan civil society and international partners to support human rights defenders. In line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, we monitor threats and build up an understanding of the risks, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by women and those working on women's issues. We discussed support to human rights defenders at the EU Human Rights and Gender Working Group in November and December, and will continue to do so next year.

Azerbaijan

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the issue of human rights in Azerbaijan during his trip to Baku; and if he will make a statement following his trip to that country.

David Lidington: The human rights situation in Azerbaijan continues to be an area of concern for the UK, particularly around elections and democratic governance, freedom of expression and wider civil and political rights. During his visit to Baku on 17 December, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the issue of human rights and political reform in meetings with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Mammadyarov. The Foreign Secretary also raised with Foreign Minister Mammadyarov the individual cases of Ilgar Mammadov, the Chairman of the REAL political movement; the NiDA youth activists; and Anar Mammadli, the Head of the Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Centre, who was detained on 16 December. As part of his visit, the Foreign Secretary met with civil society and human rights activists. He also raised human rights during the press conference he gave.
	Ministers and officials will continue to take an active interest in the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and take opportunities to raise our concerns.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his Bahraini counterparts access for Mr Abdulwahab Hussain to appropriate medical treatment while he is in prison.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the case of Mr Abdulwahab Hussain and are concerned about the allegations that he has been denied medical treatment. We understand that a request by the National Institute of Human Rights to see Mr Abdulwahab Hussain was authorised by the Bahraini Attorney-General, but Mr Hussain refused the visit. We expect the Government of Bahrain to meet all of its human rights obligations and ensure all defendants have access to the medical care they require. We regularly raise human rights concerns with the Government of Bahrain and will continue to pursue a policy of frank and direct engagement.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the treatment of Hasan Mashaima and Abduljalil Al-Singace and of their access to their families.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the cases of Hasan Mashaima and Abdujalil Al-Singace. We understand that both have had their visits suspended, in accordance with Bahraini law, as they are refusing to wear the prison uniform. We have previously raised the issue of access to medical treatment in the case of Hasan Mushaima and understand that both prisoners were taken to. hospital three weeks ago for check-ups. We expect civil liberties to be protected and for the Government of Bahrain to adhere to its international human rights obligations. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed human rights reform with the Bahraini Crown Prince in December.

Bahrain

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings officials in his Department have held with the government and civil society organisations in Bahrain concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in Bahrain and in the UK frequently meet members of the Bahraini Government, opposition parties and civil society organisations to discuss the situation in Bahrain including human rights. Our engagement is constructive and focussed on supporting human rights and political reform, including the National Consensus Dialogue.

British Council

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of which projects the British Council has collaborated with (a) BAU Bahcesehir University and (b) the BAU Trust in (i) Turkey and (ii) other countries.

Hugo Swire: The British Council works with BAU Bahcesehir University, primarily through its offices in Ankara and Istanbul. Bahcesehir University has hosted British Council events and programmes, including open days for UK universities promoting the UK as a destination for international students and some of the Council's English language teaching and examinations work.
	The British Council's work with the BAU Trust has been more limited. The Council's team in Turkey has an established relationship with Enver Yucel, the Chairman of the Bahcesehir Education Trust, but this is primarily in his capacity as the chairman of the Education Commission at the Turkish Industry and Business Association. The Council has worked with TUSIAD to promote research collaborations and the sharing of academic expertise between UK and Turkish higher education institutions.

Diplomatic Service

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the headcount of the Diplomatic Service was on the latest date for which figures are available.

Hugh Robertson: The headcount of diplomatic service staff working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 30 November 2013 was 3,292. In addition to this figure, the FCO also employs staff who are part of the home civil service, staff on inward interchange from other civil service Departments and contractors.

EU Common Foreign and Security Policy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the European Commission and (b) his European counterparts about updating the European Security Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: I have had no discussions with the European Commission about updating the European Security Strategy. I had discussed the issue with a number of EU partners, as part of wider discussions on European defence, ahead of the 19-20 December European Council. We did not reach agreement on updating the European Security Strategy. Instead, Council Conclusions invited:
	“the High Representative, in close cooperation with the Commission, to assess the impact of changes in the global environment, and to report to the Council in the course of 2015 on the challenges and opportunities arising for the Union, following consultations with the Member States.”

Exports: Bahrain

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the sale of crowd control equipment to Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: Following the unrest in 2011, the Government reviewed export licences to Bahrain. We revoked 30 licences for which we assessed there was a clear risk that the export might be used for internal repression.
	We continue to monitor the situation in Bahrain very closely and assess all export licence applications, including for any equipment which could be used for crowd control, on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. We also assess applications in light of the prevailing circumstances, the capability of the equipment, the proposed end use and the record of the end user. A licence will not be issued if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.

Gibraltar: Spain

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many reports there have been of illegal incursions of Spanish vessels in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters in 2013.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many incursions by Guardia Civil vessels there have been into Gibraltar's territorial waters in each of the last 12 months for which data is available; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: There have been a total of 509 unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish State vessels, including Guardia Civil vessels, in the period from December 2012 to November 2013. The monthly breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 December 2012 22 
			 January 2013 29 
			 February 2013 35 
			 March 2013 23 
			 April 2013 36 
			 May 2013 50 
			 June 2013 50 
			 July 2013 46 
			 August 2013 68 
			 September 2013 35 
			 October 2013 61 
			 November 2013 54 
		
	
	The Royal Navy upholds British sovereignty, by challenging all unlawful incursions by vessels of the Spanish State, through radio warnings and the close monitoring of all such vessels, until they leave British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. We also make formal diplomatic protests to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about all such incursions. Although unlawful, incursions are a violation of British sovereignty: they are not a threat to it. They do not change international law or the fact of UK and Gibraltar jurisdiction. They do not weaken or undermine the legal basis for British Sovereignty over Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Gibraltar: Spain

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission about border delays at the Spanish border with Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: We are in frequent contact with the European Commission about delays at the Spanish border with Gibraltar, including on the need for the Spanish authorities to implement the recommendations from the European Commission. The UK, in partnership with the Government of Gibraltar, is continuing to gather data on the daily border delays in order to demonstrate their illegitimate, disproportionate and unlawful nature, as well as the impact they are having on local people, including Spanish nationals. We will continue to provide that evidence to the Commission. The Prime Minister also raised this matter with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, on 20 December.

India

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Indian government about legislation in that country which may discriminate against or criminalise individuals on the grounds of their sexuality or the expression of that sexuality.

Hugo Swire: We are following developments on the Indian Supreme Court decision closely and I discussed this issue with the new Indian high commissioner at our first meeting on 6 January. It is important that India's democratic institutions work through this issue. The UK's global policy is that human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people, as enshrined in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and that to render consenting same-sex relations illegal is incompatible with international human rights laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Israel

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Israel on the Prawer Plan for the demolition of Bedouin homes without formal land title.

Hugh Robertson: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 3 December 2013, Official Report, column 594W.

Libya

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Libyan Government to hold a full inquiry into the events that led to BOAC flight 045 to Khartoum on 22 July 1971 being forced to land at Benina airport, Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The UK does not intend to make representations to the Libyan Government to hold a full inquiry. However, we have made formal appeals to both the present and previous Libyan governments for any information they have on this case. We will continue to encourage the Libyan authorities to engage on this and other legacy issues arising from the actions of the Gaddafi regime.

Occupied Territories

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Israeli government on the finding of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that the weekly average of structures demolished and persons displaced in the occupied Palestinian territory has remained unaffected by the recent resumption of peace talks.

Hugh Robertson: Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv have made representations to the Israeli Government about the continued demolitions of Palestinian property despite the resumption of talks and have urged a halt of demolitions.
	In the 16 December 2013 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions, EU Foreign Ministers expressed “grave concern” regarding demolitions and warned against “actions that undermine the negotiations”. The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a local statement on 19 December expressing serious concern that since the beginning of the year, more than 600 Palestinian-owned structures had been demolished in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, displacing around 1,000 Palestinians.

Occupied Territories

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to urge the Israeli government to halt demolitions in occupied Palestinian territories for the duration of peace talks.

Hugh Robertson: Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv have made representations to the Israeli Government about the continued demolitions of Palestinian property despite the resumption of talks and have urged a halt of demolitions.
	In the 16 December 2013 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions, EU Foreign Ministers expressed “grave concern” regarding demolitions and warned against “actions that undermine the negotiations”. The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a local statement on 19 December expressing serious concern that since the beginning of the year, more than 600 Palestinian-owned structures had been demolished in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, displacing around 1,000 Palestinians.

Occupied Territories

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his counterparts in the EU what steps the EU might take to urge the Israeli government to halt demolitions in occupied Palestinian territories for the duration of peace talks.

Hugh Robertson: Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv have made representations to the Israeli Government about the continued demolitions of Palestinian property despite the resumption of talks and have urged a halt of demolitions.
	In the 16 December 2013 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions, EU Foreign Ministers expressed “grave concern” regarding demolitions and warned against “actions that undermine the negotiations”. The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a local statement on 19 December expressing serious concern that since the beginning of the year, more than 600 Palestinian-owned structures had been demolished in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, displacing around 1,000 Palestinians.

Palestinians

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government has made of the effect of Israeli blockades of raw materials on the Gaza economy; and what representations the Government has made to the government of Israel regarding that country's blockade of Gaza.

Hugh Robertson: We consistently call for relaxation of the Israeli movement and access restrictions that have been estimated as costing the Palestinian economy up to 85% of its Gross Domestic Product every year. As part of this, we are urging Israel to ease its restrictions on Gaza on the import of commercial construction materials.
	Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv made representations on this issue with the Israeli Defence Minister on 19 December and with the Israeli Office for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on 15 December.

Palestinians

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government has made of the availability of electricity to Palestinians following the recent flooding in Gaza.

Hugh Robertson: Heavy rain and snow in Gaza has led to widespread flooding and power cuts. Electricity feeder lines from Egypt and Israel were damaged on 12 December and, although they have been mostly repaired, subsequent bad weather has continued to damage the domestic network and electricity supply.
	On 16 December, following a Qatari donation to the Palestinian Authority to fund the purchase of fuel for Gaza, the Gaza power plant restarted partial operations for the first time since 1 November. We continue to encourage the Palestinian Authority, Israel and other interested parties to find both an immediate and long-term solution to Gaza's energy crisis.

Russia

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has advised any lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people that they should not visit Russia on the grounds of their sexual orientation or because they are transgender in the last 12 months.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's comprehensive travel advice for Russia does not advise against travel to Russia for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It does contain information on Russian perceptions of homosexuality, noting that although homosexuality is legal, there is still a degree of intolerance among some sections of the population. It also notes that a law preventing the promotion of "non traditional" sexual relations among minors was passed in June. As the Prime Minister has said, this law has the potential to prevent LGBT people from fully enjoying the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Russia and Ukraine

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts from Russia and Ukraine in relation to their bail-out plans.

David Lidington: The UK is still assessing the details of the agreement between Russia and Ukraine which was announced on 17 December. While I have had no direct contact with my counterparts in the respective nations on this issue, we will continue to monitor developments closely.
	The UK, along with its international partners, has regularly called upon Russia to respect Ukraine's sovereign right to determine its own future and relationship with the EU. Most recently, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), along with EU partners at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, made clear to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that the economic and political pressure Russia had placed on Ukraine was unacceptable.
	We continue to believe that the Association Agreement, which the EU remains ready to sign, is the best way to build the modern, democratic and prosperous Ukraine that its people want.
	Ukraine also has the option of funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). I hope the Ukrainian authorities can reach agreement with the IMF on a new Stand-By Arrangement. We do not support any loosening of the conditionally this would involve, but, we hope the fund can show some flexibility in its dealings with Ukraine, such as a staged increase of gas tariffs rather than an immediate one-off hike.

Saudi Arabia

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what reports he has received on the imprisonment by the Saudi Arabian authorities of two Ahmadi Muslims on grounds of faith since May 2012; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia regarding the imprisonment of Ahmadi Muslims held in custody in that country since May 2012 on grounds of faith.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the case of two Ahmadi Muslims who have been detained in Saudi Arabia since 2012, on grounds of apostasy. We are in contact with their family members and members of the Ahmadi community both in London and in Riyadh. We continue to monitor their case.
	We raise our concerns about freedom of religion or belief with the Government of Saudi Arabia. Most recently the UK's statement and recommendations made during Saudi Arabia's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in October 2013 highlighted our concerns about freedom of religion and particularly through the application of the law against apostasy. They are available on the website of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
	www.ohchr.org

Syria

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of British-supplied non-lethal military support that has been captured by (a) Syrian government forces and (b) groups not affiliated to the Free Syrian Army;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of British-supplied non-lethal military support intended for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) that is no longer in the possession of the FSA.

William Hague: We are not aware of the Syrian Government forces having captured any UK supplied non-lethal military support. Nor are we aware that any UK supplied equipment was seized by the Islamic Front. We keep such matters under continuous review.

Syria

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential for seizure of non-lethal military equipment by groups not affiliated to the Free Syrian Army; and what steps he is taking to prevent such seizures.

William Hague: The UK continues to monitor the risk of the diversion of equipment intended for the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army. Following the takeover of the Supreme Military Council (SMC)-Headquarters at Bab Al-Hawa deliveries of non-lethal equipment to the SMC in Syria have been temporarily put on hold as a precautionary measure. Recipients of UK assistance are carefully selected to ensure that assistance is not given to any persons involved in extremist activities or human rights violations. Equipment undergoes scrutiny to ensure that we meet all our national and international obligations, including export controls under the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and EU restrictions on the provision of goods to Syria (as agreed by member states on 27 May 2013).

Syria

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what items of non-lethal military support will now not be sent to the Free Syrian Army following the capture of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing.

William Hague: A package of up to £1 million of non-lethal support for the Supreme Military Council announced on 19 November 2013 is currently on hold. This equipment was to include commercially available communications, medical and logistics equipment.

Western Sahara

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will (a) discuss with the Moroccan ambassador to the UK and (b) instruct the British ambassador in Rabat to make reports on the large number of injuries reportedly caused by police and security forces when breaking up demonstrations against the EU-Morocco fishing agreement in El Aaiún, Western Sahara.

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of reports of recent protests in Western Sahara, linked to the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and our ambassador in Morocco raised human rights issues in Western Sahara with the Moroccan Foreign Minister during his visit to the UK in November 2013. Our ambassador in Morocco will continue to raise the important issue of human rights with the Moroccan Government.